Feud at Indian Association takes turn for the worse

A feud between the outgoing president and the newly elected chief of the Indian Association in Sharjah has taken a turn for the worse despite mediation by the Consul General.

The new committee members are yet to be sworn in, as former president M. K. Madhavan insists there should be recounting of the votes for two posts that his panel members contested and lost.

"This is being denied. There are precedents in the Association for such an issue and there is no reason why it should be denied," he told Gulf News.

Y. A. Rahim, the new president, says the election fight was "free and fair" and there is no provision in the constitution of the Association for recounts. There is no reason for a poll recount as his panel members got a straight win, he says.

Madhavan says only when this issue is resolved will the swearing-in ceremony be conducted and the new management committee can take over. He was speaking in his capacity as the 'caretaker president', he said.

Before the situation could come to a boil, and with wild rumours and accusations flying among the 1,087 members and the large Indian community in Sharjah, Indian Consul General Dr George Joseph was asked to mediate.

The diplomat met the feuding members last Thursday at the Consulate in Dubai. He reportedly gave them two options. Finalise the matter based on the counting sheets agreed and signed by the candidates. Or compromise by sharing the two posts for which recounting has been asked.

The two posts in question are that of Treasurer and Joint Treasurer. Mohamed Sali and M Abdul Latheef, who contested the two posts, both from Madhavan's panel, lost by three and eight votes respectively.

Madhavan says Returning Officer A. Najeeth agreed to the recount, but the opposition candidates refused.

When contacted by Gulf News, Rahim faxed a letter from Najeeth addressed to Madhavan which recaps the vents and advises him to "hand over the positions and all records and other documents to the newly elected managing committee… without any delay."

He has declared Mohammed S. Theyyab as Treasurer and S. K. Devadasan as Joint treasurer.

Madhavan has called for one more meeting with senior members who have been in committees for the past 23 years, to explain the situation. "I have accepted my defeat. But this needs to be resolved," he says.