New Delhi – The Press Club of India (PCI) has elected senior journalist Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty as its new President, marking a historic moment as she becomes the club’s first woman president in its history. The election, held on December 13, is being hailed as a significant achievement for the PCI’s commitment to equality and diversity.
Landslide Victory and Clean Sweep
Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty secured a decisive victory in the presidential election, winning with a landslide 1,019 votes. Her opponents, Atul Mishra and Arun Sharma, received 129 and 89 votes respectively.
Pisharoty’s panel achieved a resounding success, securing a clean sweep of 21-0 by winning all office-bearer and managing committee seats.
- President: Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty (1,019 votes)
- General Secretary: Afzal Imam, who won the post securing 948 votes and defeating Gyan Prakash (290).
- Vice President: Jatin Gandhi, who secured 1,029 votes, defeating his nearest rival, Prahlad Singh Rajput, by a margin of over 900 votes.
- Treasurer: Aditi Rajput (elected unopposed).
- Joint Secretary: P.R. Sunil (elected unopposed).
Managing Committee Results
Neeraj Kumar topped the election for the 16-member Managing Committee of the Press Club of India with 932 votes. He was closely followed by Abhishek Kumar Singh (911), Jahanvi Sen (903), Ashok Kaushik (892), Kallol Bhattacharya (882), Praveen Jain (878), Agrarj Pratap Singh (865), Manoj Sharma (861), Nyanima Basu (843), PB Suresh (838), VP Pandey (833), Prem Bahukhandi (831), Sneha Bhura (829), Javed Akhtar (823), Rezaul Hasan Laskar (781) and Sunil Kumar (780).
The election results were announced on Sunday evening by PCI Chief Election Officer MMC Sharma and his team at the Press Club.
Upon the announcement, newly elected President Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty stated, “This victory reflects the confidence of the Press Club members in the thinking of her panel and its long-term commitment to the values of independent, fair and responsible journalism.”
Outgoing PCI President Gautam Lahiri congratulated the new team, expressing his confidence that they “would make the Press Club more inclusive, responsive and in tune with the challenges of the times.”
Outgoing General Secretary Neeraj Thakur highlighted the significance of the moment, noting that the election of the club’s first female president “not only marks progress but also demonstrates the PCI’s commitment to equality, diversity, and democratic values.”
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