PREAMBLE

We are the members of the Press Club, Mumbai. Through this blog, we commit ourselves to stand up for those who wish to make positive and meaningful interventions in the 2008 Club polls.

The poll is likely to be held on July 26 --- a day after its Annual General Meeting. As per the new constitution, 10 managing committee and six office bearers --- comprising President, Chairman, Vice Chairman , Secretary , Joint Secretary and Treasurer -- are to be elected directly by its ordinary members for a two-year term. However, under the new constitution, no office bearer is allowed to contest for the same post for more than two consecutive terms.

Amendments seeking introduction of direct elections for the post of all the office-bearers and restricting them from holding the same posts for not more than two consecutive terms were brought in by member C P Jha. Senior member Mahesh Vijapurkar (who is now the honourary member) seconded CP Jha’s proposals.

Surprisingly, the then and the current Secretary Mr. Gurbir Singh initially opposed the twin amendments, by saying that they were “tyrannical” in nature. Some others, including Sai Prasan, also rooted for direct elections to the posts of all office-bearers. However, this section of members opposed the amendment relating to the two-year term, but it did not have any alternative to offer.

After a comprehensive debate, both the amendments were passed by a majority of votes by those present at the Special General Meeting (SGM) held on May 13, 2008. So much so that Mr Gurbir Singh – isolated as he was – also supported the amendments in the end. May be that Gurbir Singh – notwithstanding his opposition made known in the beginning to the move to restrict the office bearers from holding the same posts for two consecutive terms – gave in as he must have felt that the two-year term would give him sufficient terms to complete his agenda and undo the constitutional checks.

One of the major objectives behind starting this blog –ahead of the 2008 Press Club polls – is to protect new constitution, besides restoring democracy and ensuring transparency within the Club in general and in the 2008 polls in particular.

At this juncture, we strongly believe in change in the leadership of the Club. It is for this reason that we are opposed to Gurbir Singh continuing as the Secretary. This is considering that he has held this post for four consecutive terms and in all for half a dozen times.

Through this blog, we would like to keep the members posted of the developments within the club and in the process, help mould their opinion in electing right candidates in the polls. While this blog is opposed to unconstitutional and undemocratic ways of Gurbir Singh, it would not spare other candidates with questionable credentials.

Even if we succeed in doing a Whistle-blower’s job, we will be more than satisfied.