The Darjeeling Gymkhana Club, which was established in 1909, managed to keep politics out of its gates during its executive committee elections held on Friday.
Hamro Party president Ajoy Edwards, who was a member of the previous executive committee, lost. Ten members of a 12-member team that was perceived as being close to Anit Thapa — Edwards’s political rival and president of the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha and chief executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) — also lost.
On the other hand, 12 from a 14-strong team of mostly apolitical members won. The club has 500-odd members, half of whom stay outside Darjeeling, mostly in Calcutta.
The election to the 14-member executive committee had been largely free of political interference during the last election, after years of such meddling.
Politics, however, threatened to make a comeback this time. “During the fag end of the campaign it became clear that people close to Anit Thapa had formed a team of 12 members and were urging club members to vote for them as a unit,” said a club member.
Another list featuring 14 members was also circulated by the mostly apolitical group, seeking votes. From the list of 14, 12 were elected. Only two members from the team of 12 perceived to be close to Thapa won.
A total of 29 members were in the fray. “This time members were not influenced by political parties. They voted for people they thought could deliver,” said a member.