NEW DELHI, March 30: The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) secretary-general, V Raghuraman, resigned on Monday amid speculations over his differences with the chamber president, L Lakshman.The successor to Raghuraman, who joined Assocham in 1992, is likely to be named on Tuesday by Lakshman. Chamber sources say Raghuraman may be replaced with an economist from outside who will take charge on April 1.
Although both Lakshman and Raghuraman denied that there were any differences over the functioning of the chamber, sources said the two did not see eye to eye on many issues. Sources also claimed that there was simmering discontent among the senior officers of the secretariat over Raghuraman's style of functioning. An official spokesperson of the chamber, however, declined to comment on the issue.
Calling his innings with Assocham "satFinancial Express that he was leaving Assocham to "devote some time to a part-time assignment with Unesco related to the power sector. My first loveis energy and I am going back to it".
Raghuraman, who is a technocrat specialising in energy-related fields was the deputy director-general of National Productivity Council before joining Assocham. Prior to that, he served as chairman of Washington-based World Energy Efficiency Association.
In all probability, Raghuraman's successor is expected to be an economic expert who could enhance the chamber's "lobbying power" with the government vis-a-vis other apex chambers like Ficci and the Confederation of the Indian Industry (CII).
Tarun Das of CII and Amit Mitra of Ficci are believed to carry more clout in their dealing with the government as well as media, sources pointed out. The move to find a replacement to Raghuraman was on for a while. His equation and liaison with the government was being questioned by some quarters, sources added.
There is no insider within the chamber who is expected to come up to the expectations. The economic advisor, SP Bharucha, is slated to retire next year and hence wasnot tipped for the post.
The very fact that the chamber was ready to appoint his successor on Tuesday, who is expected to take charge immediately, indicated that it could not be a sudden move. Moreover, in announcing the appointment to the seniormost post of secretary-general, Lakshman could not have decided alone, sources pointed out.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
