Anil Tripathi elected Secretary, Basant Sharma becomes Treasurer; emotional moment as ailing senior journalist Rajendra Vyas arrives to cast his vote
Published on: March 15, 2026
By: BTNI
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
The elections of the Rajnandgaon Press Club concluded on Sunday in a calm, democratic and cordial atmosphere, with journalists reaffirming their faith in experience and past performance by electing the previous leadership once again.
According to the officially declared results, Sachin Agrahari has been re-elected as the President of the Press Club. Anil Tripathi won the post of Secretary, while Basant Sharma was elected as Treasurer. The outcome effectively brought the earlier leadership team back to power with renewed confidence from the members.
Out of the total 158 eligible voters in the Press Club, 149 journalists exercised their franchise, reflecting strong participation in the democratic process.
In the contest for the President’s post, Sachin Agrahari secured a decisive victory by obtaining 107 votes. His nearest and only rival, Kamlesh Swarnkar, received 41 votes.
The race for the Secretary’s position turned out to be the most competitive, with five candidates in the fray, leading to a division of votes. Ultimately, Anil Tripathi emerged victorious with 74 votes. His closest rival, journalist Vikram Vajpayee from Nai Duniya, secured 50 votes and fell short by 24 votes.
For the Treasurer’s post, Basant Sharma won with 85 votes. His opponents Pramod Shende and Ravi Singh received 31 and 32 votes respectively.
Although the three winners did not formally contest as part of a panel, it was widely perceived among journalists that they represented a similar approach and working style. The election results appeared to reflect that sentiment, with members choosing to continue with the same leadership.
Emotional Moment During Voting
An emotional moment marked the polling process when senior journalist Rajendra Vyas, who has been unwell for a long time and faces mobility challenges, arrived at the Press Club to cast his vote.
Journalists present at the venue, including Shyam Khandelwal, Purushottam Tiwari, Kamlesh Swarnkar and Basant Sharma, offered to arrange voting for him inside his vehicle if he preferred. However, Vyas expressed his desire to enter the premises himself and spend some time among fellow journalists.
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He was eventually assisted inside on a wheelchair, where he cast his vote and spent a few moments interacting with colleagues. His dedication to participate in the democratic process deeply moved many present at the venue.
Election Held in an Atmosphere of Brotherhood
The entire election process took place in a friendly and harmonious environment. There were no signs of tension or factionalism, and candidates were seen interacting cordially with each other throughout the day.
Members of the Press Club’s patron board including Sushil Kothari, Ashok Pandey, Jitendra Mishra, Purushottam Tiwari, Shyam Khandelwal, Vinesh Chopra and C.L. Jain participated in the voting. Editors Suraj Buddheev, Anupam Thakur and Jaideep Sharma also cast their votes.
Overall, the Rajnandgaon Press Club election emerged as an example of democratic tradition and unity among journalists.
The entire electoral process was successfully conducted under the supervision of returning officers and senior advocates Umakant Bhardwaj, Manoj Choudhary, Vimal Hazra and Manish Tiwari. Members of the Press Club expressed their gratitude to the election officials and their team for ensuring a smooth and transparent voting process.
