PDA Sweeps the Press Club Polls

PDA sweeps the Press Club Elections

The ruling panel Progressive Democratic Alliance swept The Press Club, Mumbai Elections 2008-10, held on Saturday, July 26, ’08, by wining all the office-bearer seats and 8 out of 10 managing committee seats.

On a day lashed by rains, bomb blasts and uncertainty, a large number of journalists came and voted to ensure that the path of progress does not get derailed. It was not just a win; it was a stunning victory that surprised many among the ruling team. Members have resoundingly rejected the politics of negativism. Those who opposed the club’s development, resorted to vicious smear campaigns and operated filthy, anonymous blogs have been the losers.

Devendra Mohan of Business India won the chairman’s post by defeating G Vishwanath of The Hindu by over 47 votes, while Santosh Bane of The Times of India defeated Prasad Mokhasi of Loksatta by 105 votes to bag the post of vice chairman.

For the first time, the Press Club has a lady, Swati Deshpande, from The Times of India, holding the key post of secretary. She defeated Vinod Khatri of Navbharat Times by over 57 votes. Gordon D’Costa of Hindustan Times defeated Kalpana Rane of Maharashtra Times by 60 votes to bag the joint secretary’s post.

Rajesh Mascarenhas of The Economic Times bagged the post of treasurer by defeating Chandrashekar Sant by a margin of 90 votes.

Others who became members of the managing committee include Gurbir Singh of Business World, Santosh Andhale of Mumbai Mirror, Pradeep Shinde of Matruboomi, Ajit Joshi of Gujarathi Mitra, Sunil Shivdasani of Hindustan Times, Edwin Fernandes of The Times of India, Prakash Akolkar of Maharashtra Times and Om Prakash Tiwari of Dainik Jagran.