Outgoing President Suraj Vaidya on Sunday handed over the leadership to Pandey and administered oath to 61 newly-elected executive committee members amid a programme at the FNCCI secretariat in Teku, Kathmandu.

Pandey became the 17th FNCCI president defeating Bhaskar Raj Rajkarnikar in an election held on Saturday. Pandey received 54.6 percent votes, while Rajkarnikar garnered 45.4 percent.

Pandey had a handsome lead in the commodities association and district and municipal chambers categories. In the district and municipal chambers category, Pandey received 49 votes, Rajkarnikar’s 42.

Under commodities association, Pandey garnered 56 votes, against 32 votes of Rajkarnikar.

Rajkarnikar was let down in the associates category on which he had pinned high hopes. Under the category, Rajkarnikar had just two-vote lead, garnering 291 votes against Pandey’s 289.

The election gave mixed results to both Pandey and Rajkarnikar panels. Two new vice-presidents Kishore Pradhan (district and municipal chambers) and Dinesh Shrestha (commodities associations) are from the Pandey panel, while Shekhar Golchha (associates) represents Rajkarnikar’s panel. On Sunday, Golchha, Shrestha and Pradhan also assumed their charges.

The executive committee members now will vote for senior vice president.

Pashupati Murarka from the Rajkarnikar panel and Bhawani Rana from the Pandey panel are vying for the post.

A majority of members elected from commodities associations were from the Pandey panel, while the Rajkarnikar panel made a clean sweep in the associates category, winning all 16.

Talking to the Post after his victory, Pandey said he will stick to his primary agenda of uniting the private sector.

“We will incorporate members from both the panels and hand them appropriate roles and responsibilities for creating a strong private sector,” said Pandey, adding strengthening the FNCCI secretariat will be his other major priority.

As the election vertically divides the FNCCI, Pandey has a tough job ahead as he has to manage both the sides.

Another challenge for him is how he will handle former FNCCI presidents, many of whom stood in his favour. Former presidents Chandi Raj Dhakal and Kush Kumar Joshi were actively involved in his poll campaign.

Pandey stressed he would continue the good initiatives taken by the former committee and also work on enhancing the image of the private sector.

“For this, we will create a system and encourage the private sector to comply with it,” he said.