Advani pulls out from polls
Last-Minute Decision Could Help Friend Win
Shailendra Awasthi TNN
Mumbai: Suresh Advani , one of the contestants at this year’s elections for the managing committee of the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC), has withdrawn his candidature. This development has now left 11 candidates in fray for the nine-member committee elections to be held on Saturday, December 18.
Though people in know of the RWITC politics say Advani has withdrawn to help his close friend Mohan Thakur. Advani himself denies it. “This is not correct, I have withdrawn for personal reasons as my family wants me to skip the elections this year and try my luck next year,” claims Advani.
He, however, did not deny his friendship with Thakur. “Yes, Thakur and I are close friends, but so are many other members. But, my decision to withdraw is purely personal,” added Advani.
With a voter being able to cast his ballot for only nine members, sources claim Advani’s withdrawal is aimed at avoiding the split of votes between the two friends. Mohan Thakur, surprisingly, says friendship could be a reason.
“Yes we are very close friends and it seems he doesn’t want to hurt my chances,” said Thakur. He, however, is not yet certain to contest. “I’m meeting my supporters on Thursday and then I will decide according to their suggestions,” says Thakur.
Thakur also clarified why he had suddenly resigned from the committee during the last Pune season, only to re-enter as a co-opted member. “I had differences with the chairman on certain issues and I thought it would be proper to resign. But then my supporters insisted that I should stay on,” said Thakur.
Chairman Vivek Jain feels this element of uncertainty is not good for elections. “There has already been needless speculation over the motive of the last minute entrants and withdrawals. It has unnecessarily kept the electorate and the other contestants guessing,” says Jain. “I also feel that those left in fray after the last day of nominations, should not withdraw other than exceptional reasons,” he added.
