Candidates emerging?

With the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) mega trusteeship elections only four months away, speculation is rife about who will be the contestants. While BPP trustee Yazdi Desai may be the only person to have publicly announced his candidature, a column written by the BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta’s son Viraf in the Jam-e-Jamshed Weekly of May 24, 2015 indicated an interest in the contest. Viraf noted, "Year after year we make resolutions to better ourselves, serve society, or then better ourselves as a society. For some time now, I have wanted to be part of something that allows me to give back to my community and to my faith.”
A text message from Parsiana inquiring "Will you be contesting the BPP trusteeship election?” received the response from the Zoroastrian Youth for the Next Generation founder member and stockbroker: "Not decided 100%. But definitely inclined towards it.”
Desai noted in his announcement in the Jam-e-Jamshed of May 17, "For the first few years of my trusteeship, I admit I didn’t give the BPP much time and used to miss meetings. But since the past year I’ve been devoting considerable time and have realized that I am making a difference. I’m 56 years old and will retire at 58, so I will have even more time to devote to the BPP. As it is, I’ve cut back on my work and am at the BPP twice a week nowadays. There’s a lot to do.”
Five trusteeship seats will be up for election, namely those of Dinshaw, Arnavaz Mistry, Jimmy Mistry, Khojeste Mistree and Desai. Of these Arnavaz, Mistree and Desai are expected to seek reelection. Mehta is barred because his 21 years and three terms in office will be over by October and Jimmy does not intend to stand. He told the Parsi Times of May 16, "I want to have nothing to do with the BPP or the elections.” He referred to the recent ruckus in the BPP boardroom between Dinshaw and Yazdi, terming it "a sad and shameful incident.”

The seats of BPP trustees Armaity Tirandaz and Muncherji Cama will fall vacant in 2016 and 2018 respectively. Neither is so far expected to seek reelection. Tirandaz’s daughter-in-law, choreographer Pearl had also written a piece in the Jamé of May 24 where she stated, "I believe the community needs you, the youth, now more than ever. Be the future and I promise you with a little effort and time spent on giving back to our community, you will not just feel an immense satisfaction but will also spread the love for your fellow community members. Your community needs you… Wake up and be part of your future.” When Parsiana sent a text message asking if she had any aspiration of standing, she replied, "I don’t need a position to do good work.”
Desai "dismissed speculation” that his wife Anahita would be contesting even though "she is probably more popular than me.” The candidature of Anahita against Cama in 2011 caused the split between Dinshaw and his World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ) allies namely co-trustees Mistree and Yazdi. Dinshaw had proposed the compromise candidature of Tata Sons director and son of the late former BPP trustee Silloo Kavarana, Farrokh but WAPIZ insisted on Anahita standing. Cama was convinced to stand and Anahita lost a bitterly contested campaign and the rancor persists till date.
That election was held due to the resignation of BPP trustee Noshir Dadrawala who was hounded out by Dinshaw, Mistree and Yazdi. Dadrawala belonged to the Adult Franchise for Progress group that put up seven candidates of whom only he was elected to office. In his statement Yazdi admits, "My biggest regret is that we drove Dadrawala away. We were misinformed about various things and reacted in a way we now regret. One makes mistakes and learns from them.” The strained relations resulting from that "mishap” saw Dinshaw allegedly raise a chair to strike Yazdi at the BPP trustees’ meeting on May 12.
Aware of the public’s revulsion to the BPP’s goings on Anahita in a letter to the Parsi Times dated May 23, urged voters to "please refrain from painting all trustees with the same brush. It is unfair and simplistic. Believe me it takes guts to stand up to a person like Dinshaw.” Some parties alleged that Yazdi deliberately provoked Dinshaw and that the proceedings were recorded surreptitiously by Mistree who was reportedly smirking throughout the incident. A brief two-minute audio recording of the fracas went viral on the internet (see "Chairing the chaos,” Parsiana, May 21, 2015). Other trustees may have also recorded a part of the proceedings. With all the ill will prevailing, the May 19, meeting of the trustees was cancelled. The next one was scheduled for May 26.
Builder Zarir Bhathena while not publicly announcing his decision to contest has indicated privately his desire to do so. His relations with Mistree and Desai are strained, if not damaged beyond repair, as the duo tried unsuccessfully to thwart the construction of Bhathena’s high-rise residential, Hilla Towers, in the Wadia Agiary complex at Lalbaug.
Capt Percy Master, a successful entrepreneur and Homai Daruwalla, former chairman and managing director of the Central Bank of India, are being urged to stand but are not convinced to do so as yet. The tarnished image of the BPP is proving a deterrent to many.
But the trust received some respite when the police reportedly exonerated the BPP in regards to the money and jewelry found in the late chief executive officer Mehli Colah’s cupboard. According to Dinshaw, the police have stated the valuables are the property of the BPP and had no relation to the Dadi House tenancy transaction where it was alleged that cash had changed hands.