Mumbai, Aug 2 (IANS): Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit, who is the president of Indian Films & Television Directors' Association (IFTDA), has formed a team of industry veterans to contest IFTDA elections. Many industry seniors have supported his team.

The elections will be held on August 16.

Pandit will compete under Ashoke Pandit Group, which aims to form a core team that helps distressed directors as well as work towards the benefit of the film and television industry.

The group includes TV producer B.P. Singh, directors Kuku Kohli, Sanjay Gupta, Vipul Shah, Vivek Agnihotri, Rahul Rawail, and National Award winning director Ashwini Chaudhary.

Pandit has received support from eminent names in the industry like filmmakers Rajkumar Hirani, Rohit Shetty, Anand L. Rai, David Dhawan, Subhash Ghai, Ashutosh Gowarikar, Rajkumar Santoshi, Madhur Bhandarkar, Anil Sharma, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Ramesh Sippy, Sajid Nadiadwala, Sunil Bohra, veteran actor Anupam Kher. Among his TV supporters are Diya and Toni, Shashi Sumeet and Rajan Shahi, said a statement.

"Filmmakers like us will always support Pandit because he has made a big difference in IFTDA. Issues are being resolved with lightning speed and the association actually is making an effort to benefit filmmakers under distress," said Rohit.

David Dhawan said that Pandit's team is the best choice to fight the elections.

After receiving big support from the industry, Pandit said: "I am humbled by the kind of support I am getting to contest the elections. People from all aspects are coming in to join the campaign. I have been getting warm messages from film as well as the TV industry. In my mind, we are one industry, and we need to act as one to survive and prosper."