Chandigarh: Major Rajinder Singh Virk (retd.), alias Lalli, was elected president of the Chandigarh Golf Club (CGC) Sunday, securing a landslide victory in an election marked by record voter participation. Virk won by a margin of 304 votes, the largest recorded in recent years, underscoring strong support from the club’s members.Of the 1,800 registered voters, 1,254 cast their ballots, pushing the turnout to nearly touch 70%, the highest seen in the club’s recent electoral history. Club officials described the participation as a clear reflection of heightened engagement and interest in the club’s governance.Virk polled 775 votes, comfortably defeating his opponent, Captain Mohan Bir Singh (retd), who received 471 votes. Eight ballots were declared invalid. Notably, the contest for the top post was between two retired Army officers, adding an element of keen interest to the election.The polls were conducted after a one-year interval, as the previous CGC house had been elected unanimously. Voting began at 11.30am, following the annual general meeting of the club, and concluded around 4.30pm. The results for the presidential election were announced later in the evening. Meanwhile, counting for the election of the 11-member executive committee is scheduled to commence at 9am Monday, with the results to be declared subsequently.Addressing members after his victory, Virk expressed gratitude to his supporters and reiterated his commitment to the club. “This mandate belongs to my team and the members who placed their faith in us. I will strive to carry forward the legacy of my predecessors. Chandigarh Golf Club has the potential to earn international recognition, and we are determined to work towards that goal,” he said.Virk’s win marks the culmination of a persistent electoral journey. He had narrowly missed success in the previous two elections, polling 408 votes in 2022, falling short by 97 votes, and 562 votes in 2023, losing by a slender margin of 29 votes. The decisive outcome this year highlighted the consolidation of support he built over successive contests.A veteran of the 15 Guards Regiment and former Aide-de-Camp to the governor of Tripura, Virk ran his campaign on the promise of “accountability, credibility and transparency,” a theme that resonated with a large section of the electorate.Scenes of celebration were witnessed across the club premises as Virk’s supporters welcomed the result, terming it a clear mandate for effective leadership. The election also drew several prominent personalities. Among those present were Sukhpal Singh Khaira, member of the Punjab legislative assembly; Jagmohan Singh Kang, former MLA; Pratap Singh Bajwa, leader of opposition in Punjab legislative assembly; Rajiv Pratap Rudy; Randeep Surjewala; and noted golfers Jeev Milkha Singh and Karandeep Kochhar. Virk will hold office for a one-year term, during which expectations remain high regarding administrative reforms, infrastructure enhancement and the overall growth of the sport at the Chandigarh Golf Club.
