Shetty retains hold over KSHA
AGM Backs Election Process; Krishnamurthy Re-Elected Secretary
Bangalore: RK Shetty of Fortis Hockey Club defeated CA Muthanna of Coorg Hockey Association here on Sunday for another four-year term at the helm of the Karnataka State Hockey Association (KSHA). Shetty’s re-election as the president was followed by two unanimous choices by the newly elected body — K Krishnamurthy emerged as the secretary yet again and MB Aiyappa the treasurer.
The happy note in which the day ended matched the nippy mood at the well-attended annual general meeting in the morning where doubts about the conduct of the elections were dispelled after an overwhelming majority said they would rather prefer to exercise their franchise than get bogged down by the whines and protests of a few members who had demanded that the election be postponed.
Compared to the tense atmosphere on Saturday — when the KSHA was left red-faced after one of its life members, Madhavdas Aildas, approached the media alleging irregularities in the poll process — Sunday was decidedly relaxed as members reiterated that the ‘lapses’ hardly amounted to a major transgression. A few members even opined that the election could be challenged in a court of law but they too were effectively silenced by the resolute majority vote.
The nub of the argument was the absence of returning officer PR Hegde from November 17 to 28 and the fact that KSHA secretary K Krishnamurthy had received the nominations and withdrawal lists of candidates before announcing the names of those in the fray. Aildas had alleged that it was serious lapse in procedure but the AGM felt as no candidate’s prospects were harmed, there was no reason to put off the election. The AGM also reportedly took exception to Aildas’ decision to make public what was purely an association affair. “Aildas was reminded that he could have aired his views at the AGM instead of going to the media,” sources told TOI.
Incidentally, Aildas, who was in the running for the one of the three posts of vice-president (life members’ category), lost the election.
MP Gokulraj, MR Kumar and Venu Uthappa were elected as vice-presidents (affiliated units category) unopposed. Mohan Aiyappa will continue to be the vice-president (from the affiliated districts category) even as Nicholas retains his joint secretary’s post.
Eighty-three affiliated units out of a possible 85 and 254 life members cast their votes.