IF THE campaigning is anything to go by, next month's election for the Indian Chamber of Commerce board could be a tempestuous affair.
Words such as ''fearful'' and ''intimidating'' are being used to describe the atmosphere surrounding the poll for the 15-strong board, that will elect a chairman and two vice-chairmen.
One of the contenders for the top position, Mr Gary Purswani, is charging that former chairman and one of the more prominent members of the Indian community Mr K. Sital is collecting proxy votes for the man he favours, Mr Hatim Ibrahim who, like Mr Purswani, is a vice-chairman.
Critics claim Mr Sital, whose son Raj is chairman, has been canvassing for members' proxy votes since last September.
Businessman Mr Viroomal Aswani, who handed his voting slip to a man acting on behalf of Mr Sital last September, said he had been trying since January to get it back and was now threatening legal action after an angry exchange of letters with Mr Sital and the chamber.
Mr Aswani has already been told by the chamber's secretary general Mr Chalakudi Subramaniam that he cannot have it back because it is ''an instrument relating to a proxy to a general meeting which has not yet been called''.