The Rourkela Ispat Karkhana Karmachari Sangh (RIKKS) affiliated to the BMS retained its status of being the recognised union of…
Union poll
The Rourkela Ispat Karkhana Karmachari Sangh (RIKKS) affiliated to the BMS retained its status of being the recognised union of Rourkela Steel Plant as it won the election, voting to which was held on Thursday. The result, which came half past one in the night, brought cheers to the waiting cadres of the union.
Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram had backed the RIKKS. It was a huge relief for RIKKS as the AITUC affiliated Rourkela Shramik Sangh (RSS) gave it a tough fight. The Rourkela Ispat Karkhana Karmachari Sangh (RIKKS) secured 4,861 votes while the AITUC affiliated RSS got 3,730 votes.
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The total numbers of voters are 13,095. Including the 52 rejected votes total 12,423 cast their preferences. Expressing his gratitude to the voters, secretary Himansu Bal, of RIKKS said, “we are extremely thankful to our supporters, who stood with us .” Our total commitment to the workers’ cause saw us through this election,he added. “Juel Oram supported us and that was an advantage ,” said Bal.
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Everybody was expecting that there would be a change of guard in the RSP union as the RSS fought unitedly. RSS, which had split after the death of the all powerful leader MDN Panicker had reunited.
The Panicker faction led by his widow and Prasant Behera had joined hands to give the RIKKS a run for its money. Reacting to the defeat, press secretary of RSS, Nihar Samal said, “we have to accept the people’s mandate and we are ready for that.” He assured that his party would fight with vigour next time.
However, he said, “some of our traditional voters did not came with us.” The Gangpur Mazdoor Manch spoilt the chances of RSS. Led by the Biramitrapur MLA George Tirky the Manch got 2353 votes and eroded the RSS vote base to a certain extent. Juel Oram and Tirky joined hands leading to our defeat said a RSS supporter.
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