Ravi Saxena elected president of Ellisbridge Gymkhana in Ahmedabad

After winning "The ICT Person of the Year 2010," award SKOCH Foundation last Wednesday, Ravi Saxena, additional chief secretary of science & technology department, government of Gujarat, continued his winning spree by registering a comfortable victory in the open elections at Ellisbridge Gymkhana. Saxena has been elected as the president of one of the most elite and prestigious clubs in the city.

Ravi Saxena received 930 votes as against 300 his opponent secured whereas 53 votes polled were invalid. The panel comprising Monal Chokshi (1003 votes), Shamik, and Darshan won, completing a landslide victory. The highlight of the election was the highest level of official voting which stood at 354 as against a maximum of 155 during the past 50 years.

One of the top administrators in the state secretariat, Saxena, will now have the added responsibility of looking after the affairs of one of the city's oldest and most prestigious recreation clubs. Commenting on the challenges of his new job, Saxena said,

"Well, administration in the government and management of a club, both are different in nature. The club is a private place for the recreation of the elite members of society. I am very happy to know that all the members of the club have shown their confidence in me and my capabilities."

Saxena, who had also served as the secretary of the club, said, "Generally, not many officers go for open elections. But I did and won." He added, "Slowly and gradually, support poured in from all sides. Colleagues from GIDC, from IAS, IPS and IFS, engineers from R&B and irrigation, and on top of it all the doctors, and good scientist friends from ISRO and PRL, and colleagues from health secretary department all extended their valuable support for the election."