Turf Club drops resolution to increase membership by 150

Members of the Bangalore Turf Club on Tuesday dropped the resolution to increase its membership and entrusted former chairman N Harindra Shetty with the all-important task of convincing the State Government to renew the licence to conduct racing activities.

Following a near three-hour Extraordinary General Body meeting that was attended by around 180 members, the club decided that since due process was not followed, the resolution to increase the membership by 150 -- 50 of which the government has been demanding -- needs to be dropped.

With racing coming to a standstill in the city since the expiry of licence on August 31, the members also chose Shetty -- who in April was ousted through a no-confidence motion -- to lead a delegation and impress upon the government to grant the licence at the earliest. The governing body also decided to conduct the annual general body meeting on September 25 where a new chairman is likely to be elected.

"If an amendment needs to made in BTC's Articles of Association then an approval from the State Government has to be sought first. After gaining approval, then an EGM has to be called before it can be voted as a resolution. This was not followed by the managing committee in this case. Hence, the governing body members decided to drop the resolution," said Shetty.

The three-time former chairman said his first priority would be to meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and get the licence at the earliest. "T Jayaprakash and I on Wednesday will pick another eight members to form a 10-member ad-hoc body. This is because nine members of the managing committee resigned on Monday. I will be leading this ad-hoc body and our main goal will be to seek an appointment with the CM at the earliest. We would convince the CM to grant us the licence."

Sources said the ad-hoc committee will also elect an interim chairman with Shetty being the favourite as he remains the only elected steward.

Shetty, who after being forced to resign as chairman, had written a letter to the chief minister on the functioning of the club, said the membership issue cropped up because of mismanagement on part of the MC.

Shetty though sounded confident of putting the house back in order even as it awaits the report of the CID probe into the club's affairs. "I have a very challenging task ahead of me but I'm confident of delivering. I've been a chairman earlier and I know what needs to be done."