A messy affair

With the divided, cash strapped Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) floundering, the only ray of hope for the community this New Year is a change of guard at the apex Bombay trust. As the September/October election near, all the parties in the fray are preparing their election strategy. While at one time there was talk of a compromise panel to avoid an acrimonious campaign, the proposal did not materialize.
Amongst the names that were being bandied about for the consensus panel were Udvada high priest Dastur Khurshed Dastoor, former BPP trustees Noshir Dadrawala and Muncherji Cama, chartered accountant Zarir Bhathena, industrialist and owner of Parsi Times, Kersi Randeria, equity and finance professional and Zoroastrian Youth for the Next Generation (ZYNG) promoter Viraf Mehta, publisher Maneck Davar and sitting BPP trustee Yazdi Desai. Dastoor was to be chairman with Desai not claiming the position on seniority. But a difference of opinion about a current trustee re-contesting reportedly thwarted the carefully constructed proposition. How many of the panel now want to contest a bitterly fought campaign is uncertain; Bhathena and Mehta are likely to stand and Desai has publicly announced his candidature. Others who are considering entering the fray are chartered accountant Xerxes Dastoor and caterer Tehmtan Dumasia.

BPP trustees Arnavaz Mistry, the top vote getter in the 2008 elections, is expected to re-contest while BPP trustee Khojeste Mistree is reportedly still contemplating whether to stand again. BPP trustee Jimmy Mistry has told people he does not intend to seek reelection. BPP trustee Armaity Tirandaz is reportedly not contemplating stepping down before the expiry of her term next year. She had successfully contested the seat left vacant by the sudden death of her husband, Rustom, in 2009. BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta is not expected to stand as he has served 21 years and three terms, the limit specified by the Bombay High Court while accepting the amended BPP election scheme in 2007. But as court decisions are normally applied prospectively, Dinshaw may technically be able to file his papers for a fourth term, if not now then possibly when Tirandaz steps down next year. Determining whether he is eligible to stand would no doubt mean another costly, lengthy, legal battle.
Dinshaw is also legally challenging the resignation of Cama, stating that Cama had written to the board withdrawing his resignation but the majority of trustees (Arnavaz, Jimmy, Khojeste and Desai) passed a resolution on a handwritten scrap of lined paper accepting it. Dinshaw claims the motion was passed after he had terminated the meeting. The others allege that Dinshaw has no authority to end a meeting as and when he feels like. Unless Dinshaw moves the courts for a stay on Cama’s election and is granted one, the seat will be up for grabs.
The elections now appear to be a free for all with the main parties readying to fling mud at each other. There is no love lost between Dinshaw and the Desai quartet. Already Arnavaz, Jimmy, Mistree and Desai have filed criminal complaints against Dinshaw. Another attempt was made by the four to make the chairman step down this July when his 21 years in office were over. Consent terms however were signed in the Bombay High Court permitting Dinshaw to continue till October when his third term expires. The four trustees had earlier insisted Dinshaw give an understaking he will not seek election. Dinshaw refused. That demand was subsequently dropped.
The loathing for Dinshaw will spill over to his son Viraf as well. Aside from attacking his father’s alleged wrong doings and financial improprieties, one can expect a smear campaign with the circulation of photographs of inebriated youth at the ZYNG get-togethers and scantily clad models in the ZYNG calendars. The Mehta camp will hit back hard.
There is no love lost between Bhathena and Desai either. Desai, his World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ) colleagues and others filed numerous, unsuccessful court cases to thwart Bhathena’s project of putting up Hilla Towers at Lalbaug. Bhathena has filed a criminal defamation case against WAPIZ for allegations made against him in the WAPIZ Page published in an English language daily. Bhathena is viewed as being Dinshaw’s electoral ally, another reason for WAPIZ to gun for him.
The election tempo is picking up. Full page advertisements on the front pages of the Jam-e-Jamshed and Parsi Times by johbawa.com offered to register community members as voters "free of cost.” Enrolling on the BPP voter register is a time consuming and bothersome experience. The advertisement lists the mobile numbers of 18 volunteers in the various colonies and elsewhere who "shall help obtain your BPP voter ID (identity card).”
"We wanted to get people’s attention,” explained Kayzad Kuka who has just completed his BCom degree and handles communications for the group of youngsters behind the initiative. Since the elections are round the corner, this appeared a good project to start with, explained Kuka. He stated the group was not aligned to any political faction and the funds for the advertisements and other expenses were raised from family and friends. But many of the volunteers are ZYNG members, an initiative largely led by Viraf.