Wellington (Nilgiris), Sept 21: Following the 106th annual general convention of the United Planters Association of South India (Upasi), MH Ashraff has taken over as the president of the association. Ashraff has been associated with Upasi for quite some time now and was its vice-president since the past one year. He is also the executive director of Tata Tea Ltd.EK Joseph of Alampally Estate, Kerala, has taken over as the new vice-president. Although it was Karnataka's turn to nominate the vice-president of Upasi, following the tussle for the post, the Karnataka Planters Association (KPA) swapped turns with their Kerala counterparts as part of the solution initiated by the Tata Tea vice-chairman and ex-president, Krishna Kumar.
Earlier, Upasi coffee committee chairman IJJ Rebello was being proposed as the vice-president for the post. However, Consolidated Coffee Ltd (a Tata-owned company) managing director MA Bopanna, challenged this and it was ultimately decided to nominate EK Joseph for the post withan understanding that Rebello will be nominated next year and this year it can be a swap between Karnataka and Kerala for the post.
In addition to the president and vice-president, 28 others have been nominated as members of the Upasi executive committee for the year 1999-2000.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Printer-friendly page