Karnavati Club board: Panels merged, members demerged

In a major rejig in the board of the Karnavati Club on Monday, Rajiv Patel was made the honorary secretary while Satish Shah was appointed vice president. However, the biggest surprise came in form of ruling Members’ Power Panel (MPP) including Girish Dani aide and Members’ Freedom Panel (MFP) leader Shaishav Shah as co-opt director on the position vacated by Sanjay Gandhi.

Sources said Paresh Patel, who was all set to join the board as joint secretary, was dropped at insistence of Shaishav Shah — whose coming on board has not gone down well with several MPP members in line for the position. Shah’s inclusion has removed the smokescreen in Karnavati Club politics as the two panels have effectively entered a truce and joined hands. While MFP has gained a position on the board, MPP has quelled all chances of voices being raised over its handling of the club.

Sources close to the development told Mirror: “Inclusion of Shaishav Shah was scripted at Girish Dani’s insistence as a quid pro quo for not fielding 10-member panel against that of MPP in the recently held election. The compromise was reached between the two panels after messages were sent to club members, allegedly by MFP, highlighting corrupt MPP management.

However, it’s a small victory for Girish Dani as he had to settle for one seat on the board and that too without any powers. The development is winwin for Shaishav Shah as the club had served him a notice and decision on further course of action against him was pending.”

When asked about the decision to include Shaishav Shah and exclude Paresh Patel, club president Jayesh Modi said: “We had not approached Shaishav Shah. He had come to us as he was keen to become a director. Our sole purpose is to develop the club and not take up fights. His coming on board is victory for Members’ Power Panel in bringing together everyone. We welcome Shah for accepting our model of developing the club. Paresh Patel’s name as office-bearer did not come up for discussion and his eligibility as director is not objectionable as of now.”

Girish Dani, the champion of Members’ Freedom Panel, said, “There’s no way I will compromise with MPP. How can I compromise with one seat? If I wanted to contest, I would have fought all the 10 seats. Certain persons, who did not get any seat on the board, are spreading fallacious rumours. All I can say is that Karnavati Club has lost its eminence among clubs.” An MFP supporter commented: “We extended all support to Shaishav Shah. We held him in high regard and saw in him potential to become club’s president in future. However, by joining hands with MPP, he’s bound to lose all the support he enjoyed.”