Ahmedabad

6,483 out of total 10,400 voters cast their votes in Ahmedabad’s Rajpath club today for the elections of Board of Directors.

The election was fought between the two warring groups — Paresh Dani-led United Rajpath Panel and Jagdish Patel-led Member’s Power Panel.

Paresh Dani heads Rajpath club at present. He is challenged by Member’s Power panel.

Voting was held today between 9 am and 6 pm. Torrent group’s Sudhir Mehta, Zydus Cadila’s Pankaj Patel, former head of Medical Council of India Ketan Desai, Sudhir Nanavati, former ministers Jay Narayan Vyas and Narhari Amin were among those who cast their votes.

Former justice DA Mehta is observing this election on the order of high court.

The voting was held in ‘Diamond Hall’. A huge dome had been set up near the hall, where the members were screened. To be able to vote, a member had to show his identity card. Alternately, his thumb impression must match with the club’s records. Alternatively there was also a facility of on-the-spot member card issuance after scrutiny. No one with outstanding dues towards the club was allowed to vote.

An intensive 10-day-long campaigning saw Yagna, Aapki Adalat, poster war, daily dinners, daily breakfast, club members wearing campaign t-shirts, Facebook pages of both panels, jingles on FM radio channels, extensive media coverage, newspaper advertisements, and even paid news in dailies.

During voting today, former Deputy Chief Minister Narhari Amin complained that privacy of voters was not violated in this process of election, as voter’s name was mentioned during vote. Amin wrote a letter in this regard to former Justice DA Mehta who has been appointed to supervise the elections.

Each member had to cast 30 votes to elect 30 board of directors. Any of both panels will need victory of its at least 16 candidates to win the elections and govern the board.

Though it’s just a club level election, it has generated great excitement due to people who are contesting it. In Paresh Dani panel Dr. Anil Patel is doctor and state level Cell president of BJP. Jainik Vakil is CA and BJP Councillor of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. Saket Vyas is son of former minister Jaynarayan Vyas, Kamlesh Tripathi is Director of ADC bank, Mihir Shah is Congress worker, NK Patel heads Sun Builders firm, Narendra Somani heads The Grand Bhagwati group, other candidates are doctors, builders, hotel and popular shop owners etc. On the other hand, Jagdish Patel panel is backed by Gujarat’s top cooperative sector leader Ajay Patel. Jagdish Patel is Vice Chairman of ADC bank. In his panel Anil Shah is ex-board member, BSE-ASE, Jigish Shah is from Jakshay Shah fame Savvy group, NG Patel is former president of Rajpath club and prominent builder, Dr Ashish Desai is owner of Nirmal school, Dr Banshi Saboo, Dr Vikram Shah, Dr Divyang Brahmbhatt are among others in this panel.

Presently Jagdish Patel panel is represented by 11 members in board while Dani panel enjoys the strength of 19 members in board.

Counting of this election will be held as per the guideline of observer or the court.

Today evening Jagdish Patel produced evidences of bogus voting before observer and demanded that counting should take place in presence of candidates. This demand was turned down by observer retired Justice Mehta. However counting was suspended and it was decided that High Court’s guidance will be sought tomorrow in this regard. Counting will resume only as per the High Court order.

The results whenever out, will be produced in a sealed cover to the High Court. The result is likely to be declared at 4 pm on March 25, alongside the conclusion of the 39th annual general meeting. However that will depend on Court’s directive if challenged.

Why counting was suspended?

Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad’s Rajpath Club witnessed election for 30 posts of Board of Directors on Sunday. However, counting was suspended in the evening by High Court appointed Observer Retired Justice Mehta due to several valid points raised by Member’s Power panel led by Jagdish Patel. Counting will resume only after High Court’s direction now. Narrated below are the reasons why counting was suspended:

1. While total votes are 6483, the number of verification sleeps on observer’s record is 6570. Actually both numbers should be same. When voter goes to cast his/her vote, verification sleep is issued only after checking smart card, thumb impression, dues pending etc. As there are 87 sleeps more than total number of votes, a question arises that whether more sleeps were collected even before voting? If yes, were they collected for bogus voting? It should be probed.

2. An agency appointed for counting of votes has been appointed by existing ruling body of club. Though club had invited quotation to appoint counting agency, it is not acceptable. High Court appointed Observer should appoint other impartial agency.

3. Observer should allow all 30 candidates of Jagdish Patel panel to remain present during counting. Presence of candidates is necessary to check validity of votes.

4. Two evidences of duplicate voting are submitted before observer with name and number.

Update on 24 March evening: Counting likely this weekend

Decision on mode of counting of votes in Ahmedabad’s Rajpath Club Board of Directors election is likely to arrive on Wednesday in Gujarat High Court.

A bench headed by Justice Jhaveri after receiving a report by High Court appointed observer Retired Justice Mehta was of opinion that candidates should not be allowed inside the counting hall. The court suggested that class-2 employees of court (Assistant Registrar) will count the votes and sacrifice their two holidays. Two senior lawyers of both panels will be allowed to remain present in counting hall along with four other lawyers.

The court criticized attempts to damage the prestige of Justice system by both panels contesting the election. The court said that Justice Mehta was appointed as observer by court and wrong behavior with him was unacceptable.

It should be mentioned that late in the evening on Monday unidentified person handed over chit to security persons deployed outside the residences of Justice Jhaveri and Retired Justice Mehta in connection with Rajpath Club election dispute. Justice Jhaveri said he could take action against that person by identifying him through CCTV footage, but he wishes to avoid controversy.

The court has given time to both parties to think about court’s suggestions on mode of counting. Paresh Dani Panel’s JB Patel said his panel agreed to court’s suggestion.

Two out of six lawyers to attend counting are Sudhir Nanavati and Rasesh Sanjanwala.

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