Over 5,000 members vote in Mohun Bagan club elections

Over 5,000 members cast their vote in the Mohun Bagan club elections on Sunday which have generated much interest here.

The 126-year-old club, whose 1911 IFA Shield triumph over East Yorkshire regiment had electrified the entire country then fighting to gain independence from British rule, held the high voltage elections at the end of an intense campaign spread over weeks.

Netaji Indoor Stadium, the venue, saw a stream of ministers, former judges and eminent people from various walks of life apart from sports buffs exercising their democratic rights, an official said, adding that a total of 5,112 votes were polled.

Retired justice Sushanta Chattopadhyay was in-charge of the proceedings, assisted by a team of 120 employees of the income tax department.

The ruling group led by the president Swapan Sadhan Bose (Tutu) is facing a challenge from an opposition panel spearheaded by former India international Subrata Bhattacharya, who had a marathon 17-year stint with Mohun Bagan from 1973 to 1990.

The results are expected to be announced by late Sunday night. Initial trends form the counting hall said the ruling group was ahead.