VHA polls likely in 3rd week of Nov

n By Paritosh Pramanik

THE much-awaited elections of Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA) is all set to be held in the third week of November.
According to sources, the election programme will be out in a couple days.
According to sources, the election process would be of at least 15 days. “There is a possibility that the election would be held in the third week of November. The election process might start from October 31,” the source informed ‘The Hitavada’.
If the sources are the be believed voting and counting will be held at VHA office off Amravati Road. Like last three elections, the results would be declared on the same day of polling, it has been learnt.
Meanwhile, VHA has submitted all the required documents and an Election Expense Account too has been opened with a nationalised bank recently. 
It is worth mentioning that DS Karunashankar, life member of VHA, had won a legal battle against VHA in the Supreme Court in April 2013 regarding the elections of the association.
The apex court had dismissed VHA’s special leave petition challenging the order passed by Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court to hold VHA elections as per the list of 2005. The Deputy Charity Commissioner had appointed Khapekar, in May 2011 to hold VHA elections but VHA’s revision petitions on the order kept the matter sub-judice.
The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court, on September 3, 2012, had asked the Deputy Charity Commissioner to hold elections as per the list of 2005. VHA had challenged the decision and approached Supreme Court in Feb, 2013 but their Special Leave Petition, too, was dismissed.
On July 11, 2014, Deputy Charity Commissioner had appointed Harish Gadge as election officer and RH Padalwar and TR Wagh as his assistants to conduct elections.
The election of VHA was supposed to be held before October 11 but due to Assembly polls in Maharashtra, Gadge had no other option but to postpone the polls as he and his assistants got busy in Assembly election duty.
The last election of VHA was held in 2007. 
However, the court ruled 2005 election illegal and directed Deputy Charity Commissioner Office to hold 2014 elections as per 2005 list. In 2005, 232 voters (including patrons, life members and affiliated units) exercised their franchise and Radheshyam Sarda won the president’s post defeating Balraj Aher.
At present, BC Bhartia is the president and Vinod Gavai is the secretary of the association.