Senior journalist Pranab Sarkar wins Agartala Press Club presidency with 132 votes, while Ramakanta Dey is re-elected secretary in a smooth election on April 6
Agartala, April 6, 2025 – Senior journalist Pranab Sarkar has been elected as the new president of the Agartala Press Club, while senior photojournalist Ramakanta Dey secured a second consecutive term as secretary.
The elections, held on Sunday, April 6, following the Annual General Meeting (AGM), ushered in a new managing committee to lead the prestigious press body for the next two years.
The election saw intense competition for 11 key posts, including president and secretary, with 31 candidates vying for positions.
Advocate Sandip Datta Chowdhury, the Returning Officer, announced the results late Sunday evening after a meticulous vote count. Notably, six members of the outgoing committee, including Secretary Ramakanta Dey, retained their positions.
In the presidential race, Pranab Sarkar triumphed in a three-way contest, securing 132 votes to defeat outgoing president Jayanta Bhattacharjee.
The vice-presidential post, contested by four candidates, went to Chitra Roy with 98 votes. Ramakanta Dey clinched the secretary position securing 153 votes against Biswendu Bhattacharjee in a head-to-head battle.
Other notable results included Abhishek Dey (132 votes) and Kamal Chowdhury (130 votes) winning the two assistant secretary posts.
The treasurer race, a five-way contest, saw Ranjan Roy re-elected with 73 votes. For the five executive member positions, 14 candidates competed, with Mihir Lal Sarkar (151 votes), Abhishek Debbarma (114 votes), Biswajit Dey (81 votes), Santosh Gope (85 votes), and Ranjit Debbarma (98 votes) emerging victorious.
Among the defeated candidates, veteran journalist Arun Nath and outgoing president Jayanta Bhattacharjee faced defeat in the presidential contest, while Sourajit Paul lost his bid for assistant secretary.
Campaigning for Agartala Press Club election was vigorous, with candidates reaching out to media houses and leveraging social media to garner support. Also candidates reached to individual media persons over phone and sought support.
Earlier in the day, the AGM featured outgoing secretary Ramakanta Dey presenting a detailed report on the club’s activities and finances. Members engaged in lively discussions, offering suggestions for improvement.
President-elect Pranab Sarkar actively participated, addressing key issues and proposing constructive ideas.
The day also witness a peaceful demonstration. A group of media professionals, including proprietors of media houses, staged a dharna outside the club, protesting the outgoing committee’s failure to issue new memberships.
Despite these tensions, the election proceeded smoothly in a friendly atmosphere, with media personnel enjoying casual conversations and light moments.
Following the results, the newly elected committee addressed the press. Secretary Ramakanta Dey pledged to continue serving the media community diligently, while Pranab Sarkar expressed gratitude for the smooth election process, congratulating both winners and those who didn’t succeed.
The Agartala Press Club’s new leadership now faces the task of addressing member concerns and steering the organization forward over the next two years.
