Battle of corporates in club election

KOLKATA: A high-profile corporate battle is on the cards for taking control of the managing committee at Hindusthan Club Ltd, one of the premier clubs in the city founded by K K Birla in 1945. The club has more than 2,400 voters most of whom belong to the city's industry circle.
R K Agarwal, the former chairman (eastern region) of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and former director of Ernst & Young, is contesting for the post of president.He has found support in Emami chairman R S Agarwal, Keventer chairman M K Jalan, Shrachi chairman S K Todi, Patton chairman H P Budhia and former Calcutta Stock Exchange president Kamal Parekh.
Fighting for the same post is Shyam Agarwal of Srijan and N K Realtor Group, one of the leading real estate groups in the city.
Pawan Jain, chairman of Ashika Group, a leading merchant banker in the country and former president of the club, said that R S Agarwal had proposed the name of R K Agarwal and it was seconded by S K Todi. Shyam Agarwal's name was proposed by N P Mabhogaria and seconded by Surendra Kumar Tulsyan, Jain added.
Jain said that most of the past presidents of Hindusthan Club have put their weight behind the former CII chairman. His view found support in Alok Garodia, also a former president of the club.
Shyam Agarwal, however, dismissed the claim by saying that at least four presidents, including Sitaram Sharma, are supporting him.
M K Jalan said he wanted R K Agarwal to run the club because of his corporate experience. "The club is in a bad shape. Only he can bring back the old glory," he added.
Srijan director Shyam Agarwal felt that his experience in real estate will help in turning around the club's fortunes as well. "We are managing clubs in a lot of our properties," he said.