Elections in Delhi Gymkhana

Pioneer for Oct. 11Words: 621

Elections in Delhi Gymkhana

All roads led to Gymkhana on the evening of September 30. A stream of vehicles were entering the gates of the Club and dropping off distinguished passengers for an extremely important event. Various kinds of vehicles carrying flags and insignias, were crammed on the roads adjoining the club. They were carrying Generals from the Army, Director Generals of Police and Secretaries to the Government of India. These were among the distinguished array of members entitled to vote in the elections to the President and the Committee members of the Club on that fateful evening. Among those who actually voted were the Home Secretary, Police Commissioner Delhi and a host of other top ranking officials residing in Delhi. Some came from outside too, at the bidding of three powerful and influential men who stood as candidates for the post of Presidentship, namely, R.K. Bhargava ex-Home Secretary and Chief Secretary UP, A.S. Dulat former Secretary RAW and advisor in Prime Minister’s office and Ajay Prasad the current Secretary Civil Aviation Ministry Government of India.

It was a bitter and hard contested battle, which had begun long before the voting date of gymkhana elections. Over the last few weeks a lot of winning and dinning took place in various parts of the town. In some cases, the hosts were officers, in some they were businessmen happily making contacts with the powers that be. It was rather funny hearing some businessmen espousing the cause of serving Government servants fighting the elections so that more benefits could accrue to the Club. Obviously, they were talking about themselves hoping to be the recipients of such a bonaza. There were others who argued very vociferously against serving Government servants standing for Presidentship and not without merit. Clubs are hardly meant to serve as extensions of Government departments. They are more associated with retired people. Serving officers go to clubs for fun and not for taking administrative decisions.

The campaigning was done in great style. Letters were issued and in one case even a retired Cabinet Secretary sent letters recommending a candidate. Phone calls flew thick and fast to all corners of the country. Anyone who could vote or could influence even a vote, was contacted. A news channel had the candidates speaking their wee-bit on screen. As a result, instead of the 1600 odd people who used to vote in the earlier elections, this year the number swelled to 2,000. In the end, Dulat beat Ajay Prasad by 75 votes after the counting which ended only in the wee hours of the next morning.

The prestigious Delhi Gymkhana Club started functioning from 1913 when Sir Harcourt Butler ICS Member of the Viceroy’s Council became its first President. Lord Harding, the Viceroy became its patron. Naturally, with the patronage of such high ranking dignitaries it managed to grab a prime some of the best roads like Safdurjung, Akbar, Teen Murti ad Race Course. Today, the Club shares its boundary wall with the Prime Minister’s on the Race Course giving a nightmare to SPG and the Delhi Police. The colonial style architecture creates a unique ambience and its lush green lawns lend an air of tranquility and peace.

But the Members visiting Gymkhana now hardly go for a quiet drink or a peaceful evening. They are there to meet the maximum number of people they can, for furthering their professional and personal aims. With a waiting period of 30 years for private persons and 15 for those in services, there is a mad scramble to ‘get there’. Some however even after ‘getting there’ are not interested. Advani, Farooque Abdullah, Aroon Puri and Suman Dubey did not vote. The first two have had enough and the other two were not interested.