Two Presidents, Four VPs: MSME Officers’ Association Plunges into Constitutional Chaos

New Delhi: The All India MSME Technical Officers Association, recognized by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India, appears to have drifted away from democratic functioning. In violation of decisions taken by the General Body, the association has been operating with two presidents since November 2025. The regular president is Harendra Pratap Singh, former Joint Director at the MSME Ministry (Delhi), while the ad-hoc president is S.K. Mandal, Assistant Director at MSME-DFO, Kolkata. The association also currently has four vice presidents instead of the constitutionally sanctioned two.

The leadership crisis erupted immediately after Mr. Harendra Pratap Singh’s retirement from government service. Instead of ensuring a smooth succession, the association descended into bitter internal politics, reducing itself from a body advocating promotions for its members to one fighting for its own survival.

The internal rift has allowed the administration under the Development Commissioner (MSME) to exploit the situation. The long-pending Group B promotions for Joint Director cadre officers have been pushed into cold storage, further complicating matters instead of resolving them. In protest, several association members have already resigned.

According to sources, Mr. Singh was unanimously elected for a two-year term (2024–2025 and 2025–2026) in last year’s General Body meeting. The constitution states that membership ceases upon retirement, but the same constitution empowers the General Body to elect him—meaning an amendment should have been made to honour its own decision. No such amendment was carried out. Instead, a WhatsApp-based Executive Committee unilaterally appointed an ad-hoc president, resulting in two parallel presidents—one regular and one temporary.

It is important to note that only the General Body that elected Mr. Singh has the authority to retain or remove him; the Executive Committee cannot overturn a General Body decision.

Interestingly, in the last General Body meeting held in Kolkata, the association created four vice-president posts instead of the constitutionally permitted two, and appointed four government officers to these positions—again without any constitutional amendment. Several contradictory and undemocratic provisions now exist within the constitution, posing a threat to the association’s very legitimacy.

Sources within the MSME Ministry reveal that the frenzy to occupy high-profile posts within the association stems from the personal benefits these positions offer—from favourable postings to opportunities for foreign travel. Consequently, Executive Committee meetings required for collective welfare and promotions are frequently postponed, while meetings serving individual interests are convened hurriedly. External influences also seem to be taking advantage of the chaos.

Experts claim that certain office-bearers, acting under administrative pressure, are weakening the association from within. The present leadership crisis is a direct outcome of this manipulation.

A Special Report by Manjari