A fractured mandate was accompanied by controversy and threats of litigation when the Bombay Hockey Association election results were declared late last night.
A fractured mandate was accompanied by controversy and threats of litigation when the Bombay Hockey Association election results were declared late last night.
The results, announced an alarming seven-and-a-half-hours after polling ended early evening, saw the current ruling panel being replaced entirely with the exception of Commander Kehar Singh, who retained the all-important portfolio of Hon Secretary suggesting the mandate for change.
And that's where the chaos began. While all other results were met with hugs and congratulatory handshakes, the most sought after result of the year, for the post of Secretary, turned out to be the most debatable.
Former Western Railway coach Gurbux Singh, widely believed to be a very successful administrator who was contesting against Kehar Singh, received only 69 of the 316 votes leading to heated moments among members of the Parivartan Panel. As many as 116 votes were declared invalid, prompting allegations of rigging.
"The results are a clear indication that the elections were rigged," fumed Olympian Joaquim Carvalho of the Parivartan Panel, who was elected to the BHA managing committee with 167 votes. "Isse acchha kya ho sakta hai? It's very good news. But as far as the result of the Hon Secretary's post is concerned, we definitely intend to take the matter seriously. We are in discussions with our legal team and will decide the course of action in a couple of days. Certainly, we don't accept this result," said Gurbux Singh.
Meanwhile, Kehar Singh sounded extremely confident and was not in the least fazed by the opposition. "Hockey in the city will be run as it used to be. The Secretary has a lot of powers and I'm sure I'll be able to continue the good work that I have been doing."
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