ATTEMPTS to resolve a long-running feud between two Bradford community groups which share the same name appear to have failed ahead of a planned election next month.

Both parties claim to be the official Bradford branch of the Indian Workers' Association (IWA) and have been involved in a bitter dispute since 2001.

One side has now called what it describes as a full election for the association on October 4, but the other said it has no intention of taking part, having already formed a two-year executive committee in December last year.

Jagtar Sahota, who says he is an original trustee of the association having been in position when the group's base - a day centre in Leeds Road - was purchased in 1983, led a breakaway organisation in 2001 over what he perceived to be a failure to hold the correct official meetings.

He moved to Shropshire in 2007, but on returning to Bradford last summer he found he was still a trustee for the building and tried to organise a full election to unify the group.

Before this happened, he said the opposition group held its own election, including the appointment of general secretary Raghvir Sangha, without informing trustees and the majority of committee members.

After hearing of the dispute, ward Councillor Mohammed Shafiq (Lab, Bradford Moor) attempted to act as a mediator between the groups, chairing a meeting between the two in June.

Mr Sahota said he had wanted a set of keys to gain access to the building, but claims the opposition group said no and then dropped out of negotiations the day before a follow-up meeting in August.

"A joint meeting was organised to discuss providing access to the building and holding an election under the supervision of an independent body, but at the 11th hour Mr Sangha and his party refused to take part," he said.

"The same group tried to change the trustees, but failed.

"The trustees are legally responsible for the building but we have no access.

"This group has no faith in democracy.

"We have been left with no other option except to proceed with the election to seek people's mandate."

Mr Sangha admitted that his group had failed in a bid to appoint new trustees for the day centre with the land registry, but said Mr Sahota had made no contribution to the organisation or building since 2001.

"We are in the building, our committee is already formed, we are paying for all the running costs, and everything is running smoothly," he said.

"We won't be taking part in the election in October."

Cllr Shafiq said trying to reach a compromise between the two groups was "the only way forward".

"I was pleased to get everyone around the table in June, and while there were some heated exchanges, it was good to see both groups working to try to settle their differences," he said.

"I am saddened by the current situation, as there is a great building there at the heart of the local community that has the potential for greater use."

The election, which Mr Sahota states will be conducted by the national executive of the Indian Workers' Association of Great Britain, is scheduled to take place at the Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Temple in Leeds Road with nominations for committee members open until September 27.

For further details, contact Mr Sahota on 07443 903991.