PDA maths goes wrong , makes a false claim

From: cpjha
Subject: Our Team contests PDA claims

To: pdamumbai@gmail.com
Cc: clubpoll@gmail.com
Date: Monday, July 26, 2010, 11:48 PM
To,
Mr Sunil Shivdasani
Secretary-Elect
The Press Club, Mumbai

Dear Sunil ,
Please refer the message of July 26, 2010 that your team, Progressive Democratic Alliance (PDA) sent to your supporters (not me) in the Press Club Elections-2010. This message was forwarded to me by one of our common friend.

On behalf of Our Team, I appreciate your compliments for us for “putting up a good fight and keeping the election process clean and positive".

I am, however, sure that you would agree to my humble submission that the PDA message exaggerated its success by saying incorrectly that "most of our office bearers got more than the two-thirds of the votes".

I do acknowledge that all the contestants of the PDA won by a handsome margin. But you should not distort the verdict as none of your candidate won by "MORE THAN" two-thirds margin.

Your arithmetic is wrong, if I may be allowed to say so. All our candidates for the office bearers got 111 or even MORE THAN that out of 412 votes polled. Also, in the case of office bearers about a dozen of votes polled were declared invalid.

In this context the members may ask you why the PDA has fixation for such superlative narratives like " more than " when things could have been easily conveyed by words like 'close to " or "about " two-thirds votes.

Being a wordsmith (read journalist), you and me are expected to be very proper about facts and figures.Therefore, I request you to re-circulate this message among the members with amendment and a line of regret for making a taller claim than the factual reality.

To put things even more clear and prove that your figures are incorrect, I would also like to point out that your claim that “more than 50 percent of the electorate voted “in this election is not correct.

Out of about 850 voters only 412 voted and so the turnout of voters was certainly not “more than” but 'less than" 50 per cent.

With regards
CPJha (Membership No 388)

Our Team

C.P.Jha
Special Correspondent ,
UNI
Fax 022-22657661 Landlines 022-22656381 , 022-22654552 Mobile 9892016228

Enclosed: PDA message

From: Progressive Democratic Alliance Date:

Mon, Jul 26, 2010 at 3:22 PM

Subject: THANK YOU FOR THE CLEAN SWEEPTo:

Dear Member: You have made a record of sorts in the Press Club’s history by giving TEAM PDA a clean sweep of all 16 seats. We take this opportunity to thank all our voters and members for this landslide victory and for reposing your confidence once again in us.

The fact that more than 50 percent of the electorate voted on a day when Mumbai virtually shut down plagued by heavy rains, flooded roads, and delayed trains, shows your commitment to the democratic process.

You could have stayed at home, but took the trouble to ensure that the Club’s progress did not get derailed. While our Presidential candidate Gurbir Singh was elected unopposed, most of our office bearers got more than the two-thirds of the votes.

Yes, it is a clear vote for good administration and progress! You have endorsed the transformation of a debt-ridden balance sheet to healthy profits. You have endorsed the building of a world-class clubhouse. And you have applauded the completion of the Housing Scheme that has given 230 journalists homes in town.

The PDA team also takes this opportunity to thank the opposition team for putting up a good fight and keeping the election process clean and positive.

Dear Member, we will expect your continued support in the days to come. This means you must keep the flow of suggestions coming; and make sure you send us that critical note when you don’t agree with something. It’s the only way we can achieve the high benchmark we have set for ourselves.

Thank you once again!

TEAM PDA

Our Team thanks The Press Club , Mumbai , Members for participating in the ClubPoll-2010

Dear all,

At the outset I would like to thank all of you for taking part in the Press Club elections. On behalf of our group I presented a vision for the Club as detailed in the three documents: Fresh Initiatives, Revenue Model and a programme to advance the skills of journalists (print and visual).

I did get a message from Y A Pitalwalla. This was encouraging. ``Fantastic idea guys. Way to go.'' was Pitalwalla's response.

The results have given a clear mandate to another group of 16 members/friends from the Club. Except for Ashish Raje (jt. secretary and managing committee) and Kalpana Rane, none was looked upon seriously by the members.

I think all of us, in our own way, tried to reach the members/voters. They have made their choice and we respect their decision.

Many thanks once again for trying your best.

Cheers and best wishes

Vishy

July 26, 2010

PS : This message was preceded by following SMS to the Club Members on Sunday, July 25 , 2010 by the Our Team candidate for the post of Secretary , CPJha

Our Team salutes all its candidates & supporters 4 putting up a resistance in Press Club Mumbai poll & congratulates all the winners of other team –led by Mr Gurbir Singh with a reminder that Power tend 2 Corrupt & absolute power corrupts absolutely !!!

The Press Club , Mumbai Elects New Team

The Press Club Election 2010 -2012 (Results)
Saturday, July 24, 2010 12:19 PM
From:
"The Press Club, Mumbai" secretary@pressclubmumbai.com
To:
secretary@pressclubmumbai.com
The Press Club Election 2010 -2012 (Results)


Presidential Election
Mr. Gurbir Singh has been elected as President unopposed.

Chairman
Mr. Prakash Akolkar has been declared elected Chairman. He secured 286 votes
Mr. Sumant Mishra secured 111 votes.
Total Number of votes polled are - 414
Invalid votes are - 17.

Vice-Chairman
Mr. Santosh Bane has been declared elected Vice-Chairman. He secured 291 votes.
Mr. Nandkishor Bhartiya secured 112 votes.
Total Number of votes polled are - 414
Invalid votes are - 11.

Secretary
Mr. Sunil Shivdasani has been declared elected Secretary. He secured 277 votes.
Mr. Chandra Prakash Jha secured 125 votes.
Total Number of votes polled are - 414
Invalid votes are - 12 votes

Joint Secretary
Mr. Devdas Matale has been declared elected Jt. Secretary. she secured 214 votes.
Mr. Ashish Raje secured 191 votes.
Total Number of votes polled are - 414
Invalid votes are - 9

Treasurer

Mr. Ajit Joshi has been declared elected Treasurer. He secured 266 votes.
Mr. Vinod Khatri secured 134 votes.
Total Number of votes polled are - 414
Invalid votes are - 14

The following 10 candidates have been declared elected to the
Managing Committee:

Name Votes
1. Andhale Santosh 271
2. Bose Mrityunjay 239
3. Sutar Kamlesh 238
4. Jore Dharmendra 236
5. Kajrolkar Pravin 225
6. Gupta Vijayanand 213
7. Tiwari Om Prakash 213
8. Fernandes Edwin 207
9. Gadgil Makrand 202
10. Mohan Devendra 192


Numbers of votes secured by other candidates are as follows:

Name Votes Secured
11. Rane Kalpana 189
12. Raje Ashish 188
13. Vishwanath G 164
14. Vijayakar Pradeep 148
15. Shrivastav Anand 120
16. Vedpathak Harshada 103
17. Jha Chandra Prakash 102
18. Mishra Sumant 99
19. Abraham Renni 95
20. Shanbag Amit 83
21. Thakur S T 72
22. Khambete Satish 56
23. Nile Bhagwan 48


Vinod C. Vasudeo
Retuning Officer
July 24, 2010

Contestants of Our Team

The Press Club, Mumbai Elections -2010
Saturday , July 24 , From 12 noon to 7 PM
Please Vote & Support For Change with Continuity
OUR TEAM
Office Bearers Chairman : Mishra Sumant (Amar Ujala)
Vice Chairman: Bhartiya Nandkishore (Navbharat Times)
Secretary : Jha Chandra Prakash (UNI)
Joint Secretary : Raje Ashish (Mumbai Mirror)
Treasurer: Khatri Vinod (Navbharat Times)

Managing Committee Members


Abraham Renni (Sahara Times)

D’Costa Gordon (Hindustan Times)

Jha Chandra Prakash(UNI)

Mishra Sumant (Amar Ujala)

Raje Ashis ( Mumbai Mirror)

Rane Kalpana (Maharashtra Times)

Shanbagh Amit (Mail Today)

Shrivastava Anand (ANI-Reuters Television)

Thakur S.T. (UNI)
Vedpathak Harshada (ETV)

Vijayakar Pradeep (Times of India)
Viswanath G (The Hindu)


For details about our team and poll planks please visit our blog
clubpoll.blogspot.com

Know Your Candidates in The Press Club Elections-2010

An evening of get together at The Press Club, Mumbai

(Know Your Candidates)

Dear members,
In an effort to initiate a healthy democratic tradition in the Press Club, Mumbai, we are organizing a “know your candidates” programme in the run-up to the July 24, 2010 poll, at the Club’s conference hall from 8 pm on Wednesday (July 21, 2010), almost immediately after the close of the withdrawal of nominations.

At this get together , you will be introduced to all the candidates contesting the forthcoming poll. The leaders of the contesting panels, if they so wish, will be allowed to make a brief presentation of the issues they would like to take up at the programme.

On his part, the outgoing President Pradeep Vijayakar has graciously consented to chair the session, which is first of its kind in the history of nearly four-decade-hold Press Club.
The Returning Officer Vinod C Vasudeo will also be present.

After the programme, the members can interact with the candidates in the poll fray.
All the valid members of the club are cordially invited to the programme.
Time: From about 8 pm
Venue: The Press Club’s conference room
Date & day: July 21, 2010 (Wednesday)
Organiser: http://clubpoll.blogspot.com

Out Team

Our Team

Protest against appointment of Mr Jatin Desai as standby RO

July 19, 2010
Mr Pradeep Vijayakar
The President,
The Press Club,
Mumbai

Sub: Appointment of Mr Jatin Desai as a stand-by Returning Officer
Dear Sir,

We are surprised to note that the Press Club has, in its election schedule for the July 24, 2010 poll, notified that Mr Jatin Desai will take charge as the Returning Officer in the absence of Mr Vinod Vasudeo. In this context, we would like to make following submissions:

1) There is no provision whatsoever in the Club’s by-laws to appoint a full-fledged stand-by Returning Officer as has been done in the case of Mr Desai.

2) Having itself taken his consent and appointed Mr Vasudeo as the Returning Officer for the poll, what has prompted the outgoing Managing Committee (MC) to appoint Mr Desai as a full-fledged stand-by Returning Officer? Is the appointment based on the MC’s assumption that Mr Vasudeo won’t be around to conduct the poll?

3) We have every reason to believe that Mr Desai’s appointment as a stand-by Returning Officer was an after-thought on the part of the MC. This is because: i) When the MC put out the list of voters for the 2010-12 poll on May 12, 2010, it announced that Mr Vasudeo has been appointed as the Returning officer. However, it made no mention of Mr Desai’s appointment as the stand-by Returning Officer. ii) We are also given to understand that no decision was taken by the MC either at the meeting held on April 30,2010( in which it appointed Mr Vasudeo as the RO) or at the subsequent meetings, to appoint Mr Desai as an RO in the absence of Mr Vasudev.

In view of the above, we have a very strong reason to infer that there is more than what meets the eye behind Mr Desai’s appointment as the stand-by RO.
In addition, we would like to like to put on record that we have absolutely no confidence in Mr Desai’s ability to conduct the 2010-12 poll in a free and fair manner in view of his questionable conduct as an RO during the 2008-10 Club poll. The following are the instances of lack of fair play on his part in the conduct of the 2008-10 poll:

a) You may recall that in reply to serious questions raised by member CP Jha with regard to the final voters’ list, Mr Desai gave an constitutionally untenable reasoning to allow 80-odd “new” members who have not completed one full year as “ordinary members” in the club, to vote in the poll.

Mr Desai’s ruling was in violation of Article 5 of Constitution which clearly states: “Only an ordinary member has the right to vote at every General Body Meeting provided he/she is not in arrears of subscription for current year. However he/she shall be entitled to voting right only after one year as ordinary member”. If you see the emphasis laid in the Article 5, the rule makes it abundantly clear that ordinary members shall have voting rights only one year after having become member the press club. However, the interpretation of the Article 5 as given in writing by Mr Desai to justify his ruling does not stand the scrutiny of law. While we are going to contest Mr Desai’s written ruling given on July 24,2007 (nearly a month after the 2008-10 poll) in the AGM scheduled for July 23,2010, we are separately contemplating initiating legal action against the Club and Mr Desai for wrong interpretation of the Article 5 in the by-laws.

b) Mr Desai breached the secrecy of ballot in the 2008-10 poll by marking each ballot paper serially. Mr Jha had objected to such marking by Mr Desai after the 2008-10 polling, by saying that such marking would help establish the identity of the voters and know in the process voting details of the members concerned. This in essence means that the marking of ballot papers defeats the very purpose of holding a secret ballot Shockingly enough, Mr Desai had – after the 2008-10 poll-- gone out of the way to justify his decision mark the ballot papers.

Under the above circumstances, we reiterate that we have no confidence in Mr Desai’s impartial role as the even as the stand-by RO.

At the same time, we are contesting the very decision by the outgoing MC to appoint Mr Desai as the stand-by RO. Given that there is no provision for such an appointment in the club’s by-laws, we request you to quash Mr Desai’s appointment forthwith. In the event of Mr Vasudeo needing assistance, the members of the constitutionally-appointed Scrutiny Committee may please be drafted to either assist him or the scrutiny committee themselves may be asked to conduct in the worst-case scenario of Mr Vasudev not being able to conduct the poll himself.

While on the subject, we also request you to allow the contesting panels (both ruling and opposition formations) to have two representatives each as polling agents both during polling and counting of votes, at the conference room where the two processes will be held on July 24, 2004.
Thanking you and awaiting your swift action in the matter
Yours truly,

(G Viswanath) (CP Jha)
Membership no 132 Membership no 388