NEW DELHI, November 16:Elections to the post of vice-president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) have thrown up a surprise with the southern region giving up its turn. The chamber has now decided to pass the opportunity to the western region, sources in Ficci, who did not wished to be named, told The Financial Express.

Sources said that GP Goenka of Herdilla Chemicals and Chirayu R Amin of Alembic Chemical Works are the two front-runners for this post. Earlier, MA Algappan of the Chennai-based Cholamandalam Investment and Finance was considered a serious contender from the southern region. While the real reason for the south surrendering its turn is not known yet, Ficci sources said that representatives from the South Indian Chambers of Commerce were not keen to take up office at present.

The new vice-president, who will ordinarily become the president of the chamber in November 1999, will be elected by November 19. As a matter of routine, the three main business chambers -- Ficci, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) -- elect their office-bearers by rotation from the four regions of the country. The current president of Ficci, AS Kasliwal of S Kumars, represents the west zone. He will be succeeded on Wednesday, November 19, by KK Modi of Godfrey Phillips, currently the senior vice-president of the chamber. Modi is a representative of the northern region. Simultaneously, Sudhir Jalan of Calcutta-based Bell Controls, now vice-president of Ficci, will be elevated as senior vice-president. He will become the president of Ficci next year.