Historic Milestone: Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty Elected First Woman President of Press Club of India
By S A H Rizvi
Chief Of Bureau, New Delhi
The Times Kuwait
In a landmark victory, senior journalist Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty has been elected as the first woman president of the Press Club of India (PCI), one of the country’s most prestigious media institutions. Her panel achieved a resounding clean sweep, securing all office-bearer and managing committee positions with an emphatic 21-0 margin, signaling a strong mandate for inclusive leadership amid evolving challenges in the media landscape.
The elections, held on Saturday and with votes counted on Sunday, saw Pisharoty’s team dominate across the board. Afzal Imam clinched the General Secretary post with 948 votes, defeating Gyan Prakash’s 290. Jatin Gandhi secured the Vice President’s role with 1,029 votes, trouncing nearest rival Prahlad Singh Rajput by over 900 votes. Aditi Rajput was elected Treasurer unopposed, while P.R. Sunil took the Joint Secretary position without contest.
For the 16-member Managing Committee, Neeraj Kumar led with 932 votes, followed 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), P.B. Suresh (838), V.P. Pandey (833), Prem Bahukhandi (831), Sneha Bhura (829), Javed Akhtar (823), Rezaul Hasan Laskar (781), and Sunil Kumar (780). The diverse lineup spans print, digital, and broadcast journalism, underscoring a broad representational base.
Results were declared Sunday evening by PCI Chief Election Officer M.M.C. Sharma and his team on the Press Club’s lawn, amid a gathering of journalists. Pisharoty, addressing the crowd, attributed the win to members’ faith in her panel’s vision: “This victory reflects the confidence of the Press Club members in the thinking of her panel and its long-term commitment to the values of independent, fair, and responsible journalism.”
Outgoing President Gautam Lahiri expressed gratitude to members and voiced optimism about the new team’s direction: “I was confident that the new team would make the Press Club more inclusive, responsive, and in tune with the challenges of the times.”
The decisive outcome highlights robust support for Pisharoty’s leadership at a pivotal moment for Indian journalism, as the industry grapples with issues of press freedom, ethical standards, and institutional resilience. The incoming administration is poised to prioritize journalist welfare and reforms, fostering a more equitable space for the fraternity in the national capital.
