Minutes from now, Delhi's hottest contest – between two BJP leaders
Generally considered a routine affair, the polls to the administration of the club are the cynosure of all eyes this time, away from the brouhaha over the Election Commission — the reason being the two leaders, both belonging to the BJP, at the heart of it. Former Union ministers Rajiv Pratap Singh Rudy and Sanjeev Balyan are fighting it out for the post of Secretary (Administration), considered the club's most powerful post.
Rudy has been holding the post for over two decades now, which makes him both entrenched and vulnerable. Officially, the BJP has kept out of the election, but there is buzz among MPs across parties that challenger Balyan has the tacit blessings of the party's top leaders.
Those supporting Rudy cite the vast improvements at the club, saying the sea change from how it was run earlier has happened under the Bihar leader.
However, there are many MPs and ex-MPs who feel that the long time Rudy has occupied the post is precisely the reason that change is due.
The electorate that lined up to vote Tuesday, numbering about 1,200, included Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president and Union minister J P Nadda, Union minister Piyush Goyal, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.
Speaking to reporters, Balyan said that whatever the result, the dignity of the club must remain intact and that, as a platform for MPs and ex-MPs from across party lines to engage with one another, it was a good thing the club was in the news again.
One common complaint of those backing Balyan is that MPs no longer get the same importance as they once did. BJP Lok Sabha MP from Jharkhand Nishikant Dubey told reporters Tuesday: 'Dr Balyan will win because this club has gone into the hands of IAS, IPS, IFS and pilots. It has to be retrieved for the MPs and should be back in the hands of MPs and ex-MPs. That is why we will make Dr Balyan win.' Rudy is no longer an MP.
Some other MPs and ex-MPs also talk of officials 'frequenting the place' and non-MPs being found using the gym and other facilities. 'Will IAS officers or defence officers allow MPs in their clubs? If not, why is it that officials are seen to be controlling the Constitution Club?' a former Congress MP said. 'Wives of MPs have also complained. There are also complaints that the prices are too high.'
A former BJP MP claimed that many MPs and former parliamentarians may rally against Balyan, given the charges against him in the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots. 'Rudy may also get significant support from MPs who are fellow Thakurs like him,' said a former BJP MP.
Therefore, many believe that Congress MPs would play a major role in determining the outcome. A former Congress MP, however, said the votes of the party members could go both ways, with Rudy seen as favourite of the Lutyens Delhi crowd.
A former BJP MP agreed with Balyan that the best part of the election was that a largely 'passive' club had come alive – and that many parliamentarians have woken up to its importance.
Elections are typically held for Secretary (Administration), Secretary (Sports), Secretary (Culture) and Treasurer and 11 posts of Executive Members in the club. Congress MP Rajiv Shukla earlier won the post of Secretary (Sports) uncontested after BJP Rajya Sabha MP Pradip Kumar Varma withdrew his candidature. Similarly, DMK MP Tiruchi Siva won the Secretary (Culture) post after former BJP MP Pradeep Gandhi withdrew his candidature.
The post of the treasurer, too, saw no contest after former Bharat Rashtra Samithi MP AP Jithender Reddy withdrew his candidature, with DMK MP P Wilson winning. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is the outgoing treasurer.
Standing for elections for the 11 executive member posts are 14 MPs, including former BJP Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Agarwal, former BJP Lok Sabha MP Pradeep Gandhi, former Congress Lok Sabha MP Jasbir Singh Gill, BJP Lok Sabha MP Naveen Jindal, former Congress MP Aslam Sher Khan, TDP Lok Sabha MP Krishna Prasad Tenetti, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Pradip Kumar Varma, Samajwadi Party Lok Sabha MP Akshay Yadav, TMC Lok Sabha MP Prasun Banerjee, former Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP Shrirang Appa Barne, former BJD Lok Sabha MP Kalikesh Singh Deo, the RSP's N K Premachandran as and former MP Anoop Singh.
Formed in the 1940s for parliamentarians, the club has conference rooms, coffee clubs and an outdoor cafe. Along with lounges for MPs, there is also a billiards room, a gym, a unisex salon, and a swimming pool.
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