All roads leading up to the most prestigious club in the city, the Chandigarh Golf Club in Sector 6, were lined with cars, as members, some accompanied by families, were in maximum attendance for the most important carnival on the annual calendar of the club.
Just over four months ago, members of Chandigarh Golf Club, the most prestigious club in Chandigarh, were plunged into mourning as one of their most loved ones, IPS Mann, the then president, left for his heavenly abode, the first ever club chief to die while in harness. Today (Sunday) they turned up in maximum numbers for the great annual carnival to elect a president and executive for the next term. And a strong contender for the club president’s post happens to be the man who took over as acting chief midway through the last term.
(No hard feeling: Presidential candidates Grewal (left) and Virk show bonhomie)
Photo By: Sumit Kumar
A keen golfer and entrepreneur Ravibir Singh Grewal, representing the ‘old guard’ in the club, is up against a strong rival in Ravinder Singh Virk, an industrialist. Surprisingly, there is only a token participation from the ladies in the contest. The one lady in the fray, Shona A Singh, in the Grewal panel, was part of the previous executive team as well.
Photo By: Sumit Kumar
After attending a customary general body meeting in the morning, the members started queuing up in the covered lawns of the club to cast their precious vote. The queue kept getting longer and more serpentine with every passing minute and those idling away were seen swigging a Kingfisher, fresh lime or packaged water.
Who all queued up
Among those queuing up were several former international golfers, retired bureaucrats, ex-servicemen, professional and businessmen. The political class was also seen in the thick of action. The very elderly and the infirm could also not hold themselves back from the big event. Many of them were seen being shifted to the venue from the parking area on a golf cart.
Photo By: Sumit Kumar
Photo By: Sumit Kumar
Last minute wooing of voters by members of the Grewal and Virk panels, their family members, friends and supporters charged up the atmosphere. Even small children were not to be left behind. Some of them were seen with posters hanging from their necks seeking support for a particular candidate.
Photo By: Sumit Kumar
Punjab Congress takes keen interest
The ruling Congress in Punjab, and chief minister Amarinder Singh himself, are learnt to have been taking keen interest in the high stakes elections. Whether they have tried to tip the scales in favour of either of the two panels, or particular candidates, has been a matter of speculation. The club has nearly 1800 voters.
Photo By: Sumit Kumar
Photo By: Sumit Kumar
The fashion quotient was also high with young and older ladies alike turning up in their best summer dresses. High heels and stylish leather purses also attracted a lot of eyeballs. With the heat beginning to bite, golf hats were seen in good measure.
Photo By: Sumit Kumar
Among the known faces seen in the crowd were Flying Sikh Milkha Singh,
international golfers Amritinder Singh and Harmeet Kahlon, bureaucrats R S Mann, Rameshinder Singh, L M Goyal, M L Tayal, Y S Ratra, Krishna Mohan, S K Sharma and CSR Reddy.
Photo By: Sumit Kumar
Photo By: Sumit Kumar
Photo By: Sumit Kumar
Those contesting for Committee members
Team Grewal: Arvind Bajaj, Brar Kulbir Singh, Col Hardev Mann, Capt Mohanbir Singh, Rohit Daggar, Sanjit Singh Bala, Shona A Singh, SPS Matharoo, Col SDS Batth, Zorawar Singh.
Team Virk: Col A.D Singh, Alamgir Grewal, Amarinder Aulakh, Ankush Garg, Lt Col HS Chahal, Jagdeep Singh, Dr Jaspreet S. Batth, Parvinder Takkar, Sanjeev Verma, Satwant S. Sandhu.
Results of elections: Counting of votes will start on Monday morning (17th April). President elect is expected to be declared by Noon and committee members by late afternoon.
