New Delhi: Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty was elected as the first woman President of the Press Club of India (PCI) on Sunday, making history as the first person from the Northeast to head the prestigious institution. Her team achieved a clean sweep in the elections, winning all office-bearer and managing committee positions with a decisive 21-0 margin.
Pisharoty secured a commanding 1,019 votes, defeating rivals Atul Mishra (129 votes) and Arun Sharma (89 votes). Afzal Imam won the Secretary-General’s post with 948 votes, comfortably surpassing Gyan Prakash, who received 290 votes. Jatin Gandhi was elected vice-president with 1,029 votes, defeating Prahlad Singh Rajput by over 900 votes. Aditi Rajput (Treasurer) and PR Sunil (Joint Secretary) were elected unopposed.
In the elections for the 16-member Managing Committee, Niraj Kumar topped the list with 932 votes, followed closely by Abhishek Kumar Singh (911), Jahanvi Sen (903), Ashok Kaushik (892), Kallol Bhattacharjee (882), Praveen Jain (878), Agraj Pratap Singh (865), Manoj Sharma (861), Nyanima Basu (851), 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 reflects the collective confidence of the Press Club of India members in our panel’s vision and long-standing commitment to upholding the values of free, fair, and responsible journalism,” Pisharoty said following the announcement.
Outgoing President Gautam Lahiri expressed gratitude to PCI members for their trust and support, emphasising that the new team would continue to make the Club more inclusive, responsive, and relevant to the evolving challenges faced by journalists in India.
“The Press Club of India has, since its inception, served as a vital institution for journalists from across the country and abroad. The election of its first woman President stands as a powerful symbol of progress and a reaffirmation of the Club’s dedication to equality, diversity, and democratic values,” added outgoing Secretary-General Neeraj Thakur.