The Fight Club ; the Presidential Election of the Capital's Elite Club Takes a Potentially Embarrassing Turn, Pitting the Army Chief Against Iaf's Western Air Commander

Summary

---

Inter-service rivalry just moved to a new turf--the plush lawns and manicured hedges of the elite century--old Delhi Gymkhana Club. When General J.J. Singh, chief of army staff stands for election for the president of the club on September 29, his rival will be Indian Air Forces's (IAF) Western Air Commander Air Marshal Padamjit Singh Ahluwalia. The talk in the club's cavernous ballroom has moved on from cocktails and shammi kebabs to this clash of the titans. It is the first time a serving army chief has thrown his hat in the ring against another brass hat, even if it is a mere technicality-- General Singh retires a day after the election.

Clearly, this is no ordinary election as this is no ordinary club. Sprawled across 27 acres on the posh Safdarjung Road, it is India's most politically influential club, not only because it adjoins the prime minister's official Race Course Road residence but because its corridors--designed by Edwin Lutyens--host the Capital's power list including the Gandhis, cabinet ministers, bureaucrats, business tycoons and, of course, the armed forces. It takes 30 years to get the club's membership.

See the full content of this document

Extract

---

The Fight Club ; the Presidential Election of the Capital's Elite Club Takes a Potentially Embarrassing Turn, Pitting the Army Chief Against Iaf's Western Air Commander

Who will replace the outgoing president, former raw chief A.S. Dulat, who steps down this month, has fast be...

See the full content of this document

---