Last-minute entrants ensure a contest in RWITC elections
Shailendra Awasthi I TNN
Mumbai: December 5, 2010
Mumbai: Just when it appeared that lack of contenders would ensure there will be no election for the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) managing committee this year, three contestants have threw in their hats at the eleventh-hour.
It has now made elections a certainty during the annual general meeting of the RWITC to be held on Saturday, December 18.
Geoffrey Nagpal and Suresh Advani, both of whom had lost in the elections last year, have decided to try and test their popularity again this year. Major SK Lamba, who had lost Appeal Board elections last year, is the third nominee who has decided to contest for the nine-member managing committee.
The other sitting committee members, forced to seek re-election after the latest development, include current chairman Vivek Jain, chairman of stewards Shivlal Daga, Jaydev Mody, Champaklal Zaveri, Shyam Ruia, Dr SC Jain, Dr Ram Shroff and Gautam Lala.
Mohan Thakur, who had resigned from the committee without giving any reason during the Pune Season, only to get back as a co-opted member few weeks later, is also in fray.
There will be no election, however, for the Board Of Appeal comprising six members. Two members of the Board retire in rotation every year. This year Ardeshir Narielwala and Satish Maneshinde’s terms had ended but both decided to seek re-election.
However, since there is no other contestant in the fray, both will be elected unopposed.
This is the first time in its 96-year-old history that RWITC AGM will be held on Saturday instead of traditional third Thursday of December. “It is keeping in with the sentiments of several members as the original day fell on Moharrum, a day of mourning for the Bohri community.
“The committee unanimously conceded to their request,’’ informed Vivek Jain.
As many as 1800 voters are registered with the RWITC.
