DBA elections: Lawyers flout rules, campaign on poll day

Nagpur: The much-awaited District Bar Association (DBA) polls witnessed an impressive turnout of 84.25% with 3,290 out of 3,905 voters exercising their franchise. It was slightly lower than turnout in previous elections held on January 23, 2015. The counting would commence on Saturday at 11am in the District and Sessions Court premises here.
The drop in turnout came as a disappointment for many contestants who were hoping for a good show following intense fight for every single seat. This time, not only number of voters was higher by over 1,200, but the number of contestants too was perhaps highest in DBA history.

When voting started at 10.30am, there was moderate turnout but it increased lunch hours as the lawyers from high and other courts came to cast their ballot. It increased increased after 4pm, as many lawyers preferred to complete their day’s work before voting.

The poll panel received four or five complaints of fake voting and complainants were allowed to vote after scrutinizing their documents and registration. A contestant Tarun Parmar lodged a complaint regarding unused ballot papers. “Every time we receive such complaints. We allow them to do tender voting, as we’re not aware of how it happened. We will probe into it,” poll panel chairman Kishor Ambilwade told TOI.

It was also an unofficial holiday at the District and Sessions Court here on Friday as most lawyers were busy campaigning for their candidates and were seen distributing pamphlets, leaving their official work. Despite a call given by election panel to stop campaigning 12 hours before the polling starts, they continued campaigning through their supporters on way to polling booths. Requests made by DBA outgoing president Prakash Jaiswal and secretary Nitin Telgote against carrying mobile phones inside polling booths were also ignored.

Ambilwade deplored this tendency of lawyers stating they were bringing a bad name to the fraternity instead of setting an example. “It’s actually the problem with highly qualified citizens, who just disregard the rules. We had requested the contestants to abide by the rules several times but they didn’t listen. We’re helpless,” an upset chairman said.

Though there is fierce contest for all 17 posts of DBA’s executive committee, some, particularly those fighting under BJP legal wing, were seen as favourites. It included its Maharashtra general secretary Uday Dable, contesting for president’s post. Being close to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, he got support from not only BJP supporters but also dominant groups in the legal fraternity like Manohars. Even many senior counsels like Subodh Dharmadhikari had openly endorsed Dable, voters said.

His rival Kamal Satuja also garnered support from many senior lawyers and another dominant group led by Shreerang Bhandarkar. The third contestant Manoj Sable is banking on his vast experience as secretary and is backed by the strong group of former president Sudeep Jaiswal.

Even for the post of general secretary, fight is between Ranjan Deshpande, Vivek Kolte and Nitin Deshmukh. While Deshpande and Deshmukh are banking on their old contacts, Kolte is supported by BJP’s Legal Wing.

At the end of polling time, election panel members sealed boxes in presence of all contestants. Some of them earlier took objection but were convinced by the panel chief Ambilwade. The contestants were invited in morning as well for signing papers before the polling commenced.

(With inputs from Abhijeet Tiwari)