JOURNEYS & JOURNEYS – 30

A Secret Journey to Delhi with Ballot Papers

The All India  Conference of All India Telecom Employees Union  Class III held at Bhopal from 24th to 27th December 1991 resulted in a change of the top leadership of the union. Com.O.P.Gupta , who was the General Secretary since the formation of the union in 1954,  and his team were defeated in a stiff contest. The progressive section with Comrades V.A.N.Namboodiri as President and Com. Moni Bose, as General Secretary were elected with good margin, despite the revisionist leadership’s attempts  to manipulate the election process.

The voting was arranged in the big maidan, where the AIC was being held. The election process took more than one day with more than 3000 delegates participating in the same.  

Com. Homi Daji, M.P., the  former President of the Union and under whose supervision the election  was conducted,  had already left the place immediately after announcing the results. Utilising the opportunity,  there was an attempt by the defeated leadership with the help of goonda elements to   grab the  ballot boxes and the votes, in order to destroy the same and to raise a dispute and create  trouble.  But under the leadership of Com.J.Renganathan, Assistant Election Officer, with the help of election volunteers,  defeated the game and all the election materials including the ballot boxes,ballot papers and other connected materials were hastily put in three -four big sacks and kept in a safe place, the office of the Income Tax Employees Federation , Bhopal.

There were doubts raised whether the newly elected office-bearers will be allowed to enter the Union building in Delhi .  Where to keep the ballot boxes and the votes safely  was another question. It was decided that the newly elected President and General  Secretary will stay at Bhopal for two days, attend General Body meetings arranged there and then move to Delhi without informing anybody. Doubts have been raised by certain comrades earlier that the defeated leadership in Delhi may create some problem on our arrival, both at Railway Station and at Dada Ghosh Bhawan, the union headquarters.

Hence we planned our journey meticulously. Com. Ramachandran , State Secretary of ITEF along with the sacks of ballot boxes etc. will accompany us to Delhi. We will not go up New Delhi Railway Station, but will get down at Nizamuddin Railway Station and go to Dada Ghosh Bhawan directly and face the situation there, if any problem is created.

It was a journey with full tension in our mind. Whether we will face black flags in the station ? Whether we will be allowed to enter the Union office ? where we will stay ? With  regard to the sacks of ballot boxes, ballots etc. it will be safe as Ramachandran  will  take it to ITEF office and keep them there.  

During our long discussion in the train, we took a firm decision. We are the elected office-bearers and we are going to run the union from the union office itself. If the followers of the defeated leadership try to create problems in the Railway Station or  at the Office, we will face it firmly  and defeat their game. We are not going to runaway.

Once this decision was taken, there was no need to get down at Nizamuddin Station. The train reached New Delhi Railway Station and we got down with our luggage. Ramachandran had got down at Nizamuddin and gone to his office direct with the sacks.

There was a lot of people waiting for us with red flags and shouting slogans. For a moment we were bewildered thinking what to do. But seeing Coms. Adinarayana, General Secretary of P.IV Union, P.S.Raman Kutty, GS of T.III , N.M.S.Rao, Dy.GS of R.III Union etc. in front of  the procession we were overcome with joy. They have come in large numbers to receive us to Delhi  and also to ensure that no problem is created by others. A largely attended meeting was held there at the RMS office premises and we were welcomed.  

Com.Moni and I went to the Union office, Dada Ghosh Bhawan. There was no problem there also, the former GS Com.O.P.Gupta welcoming us and arranging for our stay etc.

( Yes, there was no problem at that time. But within months,  election dispute and many problems were created by the former GS making it a fight for survival and which we faced effectively and advanced. That is another story. The ballot papers became useful to us when election dispute was raised in the court.)

V A N Namboodiri  30.10.2024