Seven candidates for one presidency. That may sound like democracy at its best. Instead, it risks turning one of India’s most respected industry associations into an organisation struggling to agree on its own future.
No matter who wins, one thing is almost certain. With seven candidates in the race, the next President is unlikely to have the support of a majority of members. Winning an election and winning the confidence of an association are two very different things.
That raises a much bigger question. What happens the day after the results are announced?
For years, EEMA has been the voice of India’s events and entertainment industry. It was built by leaders who believed the industry would achieve more by speaking with one voice than through competing interests. Today, that unity appears to be under strain.
The issue is not that seven people want to lead. The issue is why the association has reached a point where so many believe they must.
Is this healthy competition? Or is it a sign that members no longer believe there is a shared vision for the future?
The next President will inherit more than a title. They will inherit an association that appears increasingly divided. Bringing members back together may prove far harder than winning an election.
This is also a moment for those senior members who built EEMA into one of the industry’s strongest associations. They have a responsibility to ask whether personal ambitions are taking priority over the organisation they helped create. Associations are built over decades, but they can lose credibility much faster.
Members should also ask what kind of leadership they want. Do they want competing groups, or do they want a leadership team capable of working together after the votes are counted?
Because this election is about more than choosing a President. It is about protecting the future of the association itself.
If EEMA cannot emerge united after the election, the biggest loser will not be any candidate. It will be the association and the industry it was created to represent. The next President may win the election, but unless they can unite the membership, they may never truly command the authority that the role demands.
Janice Alyosius is a travel and MICE journalist focusing on business travel, destination marketing, aviation and industry policy. She leads editorial content at MICEtalk and also writes for TravTalk, covering global trends, trade developments and key industry conversations. With regular reporting from tourism forums, conventions and on-ground industry events, her work blends news-led analysis with strong industry voices, offering clear context and relevance for travel trade professionals and decision-makers.