Vivek Jain garners highest votes, but Dhunjibhoy group sweeps to power - By Usman Rangeela I Mirror
Posted on - 19 Dec 2014
Vivek Jain garners highest votes, but Dhunjibhoy group sweeps to power
By Usman Rangeela
Mumbai Mirror
Despite outgoing chairman Vivek Jain scoring the highest number of votes, former chairman Khushroo Dhunjibhoy's team swept to power by winning a majority in the managing committee elections this year.
Apart from Dhunjibhoy, Jaydev Mody, Shyam Ruia, Vijay Shirke and Ram Shroff were declared elected after the results were announced on Thursday evening.
The anti-incumbency factor seemed to have gone against Jain’s team as Gulamhusein Vahanvaty, who got good support from turf club members, lost his seat which led to his team losing power. However, Zavaray Poonawalla was successful in gaining entry into the managing committee in his very first attempt.
Former committee member Shivlal Daga romped home in the elections for two seats for the Board of Appeal while Ashwin Mehta too was elected.
First-time aspirant to the BoA, Shiven Surendranath was defeated. Later Dhunjibhoy was elected as club's chairman. Ruia will head the stewards' body.
Shortly after the results were announced, Jain contemplated resigning. He and his team were seen in consultation after Jain’s well wishers advised him not to take such an extreme step.
In an emotional statement, after the conclusion of the newly-elected managing committee's first meeting, Jain said, “Although I have scored the highest number of votes, it's a moral defeat of my team. One of the reasons why our team lost, I think, was Vahanvaty's inability to campaign for obvious reasons. We hardly had four weeks to campaign while the rival group's propaganda had begun six months ago.“
Jain further said, “I have lost all enthusiasm to continue in the committee and I was forced by my friends and well-wishers not to tender my resign. But I have still left my options open and will take a call later this week.“
Dhunjibhoy, who will be the chairman for the seventh time, said, “It's a team effort and I thank the members for reposing faith in us. I assure them that we will all work for the club's welfare and fulfill the promises we have made.“
FINAL RESULT
Those who made it: Vivek Jain: 916 votes, Jaydev Mody: 831, Shyam Ruia: 825, Vijay Shirke: 815, K N Dhunjibhoy: 811, Z S Poonawalla: 808, Champaklal Zaveri: 780, Ram Shroff: 722, Geoffrey Nagpal: 719
Those who didn't: Gulamhusein Vahanvaty: 710, Adil Gandhy: 571,
Board of Appeal: Shivlal Daga: 809 (elected) Ashwin Mehta: 696 (elected) Shiven Surendranath: 666 (lost)
