The Tamil Nadu State Pharmacy Council has started preparations for electing six members to the Council. The official announcement in this regard will be out soon. The election is likely to happen in June this year.

Sources from the Council said because of introducing online registration system some delay happened this time to start the election process. The Council will publish the final electoral roll of the registered pharmacists, who are qualified to vote, very shortly. However, the official announcement will be done on the 15th of next month only.

According to information, there are 70,000 registered pharmacists in Tamil Nadu who are all eligible to vote. They will elect six members to the Council. The election is conducted as per section 19 (a) of the Pharmacy Act.

The government of Tamil Nadu framed Tamil Nadu Pharmacy Rule 1956, which was the first state pharmacy rule in the country. The election is conducted following the state rule, and as per it, every registered pharmacist has to renew his/her registration on time to become eligible for voting, sources from the Council said all the 7000 pharmacists do renew their registration sitting even from other countries through online facility.

The process of sending ballot papers will commence on May 15 and one month time will be given to return them. The dates for submitting nominations, withdrawal and counting of votes will be announced on the same day.

A member of an association of pharmacists said they will contest for all the six seats as they want to elect office-bearers with a new president for the Council. The member said a section of the Council members is still supporting the present president to continue and their attempt will be thwarted in the coming election.

Besides the six elected members, there will be five nominated members and four ex-officio members to the Council.