Govt intervention brings new hope for free and fair elections in FCIK

Srinagar, May 9: In a crucial development set to restore faith in the democratic functioning of Kashmir’s premier industrial body, the Chief Minister’s Secretariat has responded positively to the concerns raised by the newly constituted Advisory Committee of the Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) regarding the recent election crisis within the organisation.

The intervention comes after mounting dissatisfaction among members of the industrial fraternity with the now-dissolved Election Commission of FCIK, which was accused of serious constitutional violations, procedural irregularities, and a lack of transparency. The discontent had reached a boiling point, with multiple legal interventions and widespread resentment stalling the electoral process and severely hampering the Federation’s ability to represent the interests of industrialists across the Valley.

In response to a detailed memorandum submitted on 6 May by the FCIK President Shahid Kamili and endorsed by 26 Presidents of various industrial estates and district-level units, the Chief Minister’s Office has formally directed the Director, Industries and Commerce, Kashmir to deploy neutral observers from the Industries and Commerce Department to oversee the FCIK election process.

The Director has also been asked to examine and act upon the request to place the FCIK office at Industrial Estate Barzullah under his temporary custody until the conclusion of the electoral process

The Director has been further asked to ensure that the upcoming elections are conducted strictly as per the FCIK Constitution and bylaws.

The newly constituted Advisory Committee, formed during an Extraordinary General Body Meeting on 4th May 2025, has been entrusted with the responsibility of steering FCIK through this transitional phase.

Entrusted with full constitutional authority by the General Body, the newly constituted Advisory Committee is empowered to establish a fresh, impartial Election Commission tasked with conducting free, fair, and transparent elections in strict accordance with the FCIK Constitution, under the oversight of external neutral observers and government-appointed representatives.

This move by the government is being widely hailed across the industrial landscape of Kashmir as a turning point in the effort to restore credibility and legitimacy to FCIK.

Hailing the intervention, the members of the newly constituted Advisory Committee said that the Chief Minister’s timely and just intervention has given new hope to the thousands of entrepreneurs and industrialists who rely on FCIK as their collective voice. “We are fully committed to conducting free, fair, and constitutionally compliant elections under the supervision of neutral observers, and we will work closely with the Director of Industries and Commerce to make that happen”, they said.

The members of the industrial community echoed this sentiment, reaffirming their support for the newly constituted Advisory Committee and expressing confidence that the electoral process, long delayed and discredited, will now proceed with transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness.

With the government’s firm backing and the Advisory Committee’s commitment to constitutional values, the FCIK is poised to reclaim its central role in advocating for the region’s industrial development and economic policy planning.