Delhi's CMDA to hold elections

New Delhi: Delhi-based Computer Media Dealers Association (CMDA) is gearing up to hold is elections in October 2009. While the lengthy procedure has already been initiated what's left is finalizing the dates. “The entire exercise takes about two months. It includes calling for nominations, finalizing dates, informing candidates, sending out nomination files and giving a withdrawal date,” shared Puneet Singhal, President, CMDA.

CMDA holds elections every three years. Singhal will be completing his third tenure this year. This time around the association is looking forward to having a new team. “We want to infuse fresh blood into CMDA, that's why we will be looking at having a new set of people to head the association,” commented Manoj Khanna, Secretary, CMDA.

Asked whether he would consider contesting the elections this time around, Singhal said, “I have been the President of CMDA for nine years now. We need new people and are on the lookout for eligible candidates from the executive council or any member.”

During Singhal's past tenure CMDA has had a few major achievements. Most noteworthy was the case CMDA filed against Samsung about two years ago, regarding parallel imports. The association has also recently taken up the issue of VAT with Manufacturers' Association for IT (MAIT) and is looking forward to a positive outcome. “MAIT cannot wash their hands off the VAT issue. They are representing a party so they have to be responsible and take ownership,” stated Khanna.

CMDA has sent four reminders to MAIT asking it to urge vendors to drop the practice of doing sales by giving backend incentives and to do upfront business. The last reminder was sent in the second week of July.

Singhal added that CMDA hopes MAIT will take the issue seriously. “We have sent them a fourth reminder and are just giving them sometime to revert. If we do not get a reply we will follow it up with a legal notice,” commented Singhal.

That apart, the association is also looking at coming out with its third edition of members' directory. For the past two to three years the hunt has also been on for an association office. “Property prices had shot up in the past so the plan to get our own space took a backseat. Now we are exploring that option again,” said Singhal. He added that CMDA association activities such as family gatherings etc were currently on hold due to the fact that finding sponsors during the slowdown was difficult.