“Capital punishment”

"Everything went off very well,” said Godrej Baug Residents Welfare Association (GBRWA) president Urvax Dhanda referring to the special general body meeting (SGM) convened on July 21, 2008 to discuss the controversy over disqualification of candidates for technically incorrect filling of nomination forms (see "Capital Punishment” and "Form wise,” Parsiana, July 21, 2008 issue).

"Everyone was in favor of the new managing committee,” he added stating of the 60 to 65 members present only seven favored a reelection. Of the 47 signatories to the letter calling for the SGM, only three showed up for the meeting of whom one favored the erstwhile managing committee, stated GBRWA secretary Shahrukh Bilimoria.

"People who went door to door” collecting signatures calling for the SGM, "never showed up,” said GBRWA vice president Yezdi Panthaki. "They felt it was a waste of time.”

Clockwise (from top left): Urvax Dhanda, Yezdi Panthaki, Jimmy Panthaki, Shahrukh Bilimoria

"We have no grudge against anybody. It’s the people’s verdict,” said Dhanda. The newly formed committee has sent a circular letter to the Baug’s residents offering "their gratitude to the members for their overwhelming support.”

Tehmtan Dumasia, a former president of the GBRWA whose form was rejected on account of not using capital letters, alleged the meeting was conducted "in a bad way” and was over before those favoring reelection could attend. When asked the opposition’s future plans he said they were "waiting for the next step” of the committee.