The election process, which was vetted by chief election commission, has been free and fair, according to S Gupta, one of the polling officers and a former deputy secretary of the West Bengal legislative assembly. Gupta had conducted five to six elections of this institute in the past. The ICWAI was set up by Parliament under the Cost & Works Accountants Regulations of 1959.

Elections to the four regional and central councils are held every three years.On April 17 this year, 33 candidates contested for the 12 central council seats while 71 candidates vied for the 25 seats in the four regional councils all over India.According to RN Pal, a polling official who is also ICWAI's director for finance and administration, the institute has a preferentialpattern of voting.Some candidates, led by N Sinha Choudhury, have levelled charges of rigging at the regional and central council elections. The complaint letter made available to The Financial Express says: "It has been observed that the ballot boxes of the eastern region have not been sealed under the signature of the presiding officer of the polling booth."