Hyderabad Press Club elections 2025 seemed nothing less than civic polls, minus the EVM glitches.
I have never been a member of the Press Club – whether at its earlier address near Basheerbagh or its present location at Somajiguda. Distance was the main concern, not that I am allergic to ‘clubbing’.
Once a retreat, now a battleground
In the past, it was considered a club to promote recreational and sports activities for professionals associated with media houses. No vested interests were involved.
Members came simply to relax, exchange notes over tea, and occasionally take part in a friendly match or a tambola evening. No big money, though there were some shades of political influence from affiliated journalist unions. But times, like headlines, have changed.
With the expansion of media – from print to visual, from broadcasting to social and digital – genuine recreational and sports activities have taken a back seat. In their place has emerged a brazen political style of functioning. Like any general election, contesting Press Club polls has now become quite expensive.
Campaigns with caste, colour, and cash
The polls today resemble civic elections – with members divided on caste lines and political affiliations. Banners, hoardings, glossy posters, and aggressive social media campaigns have become the new normal.
Even contestants under the garb of journalism are seen running parallel ‘reality’ and other lucrative businesses, apparently using the Club office-bearers’ positions as a convenient cover, which is, to put it mildly, reprehensible.
The result is that for genuine journalists, contesting the polls has become a nightmare, what with money, muscle power, and caste factors weighing heavily than credibility.
It is learnt that one of the candidates for a key post had even hired an advertising agency and spent lakhs of rupees to project himself. But he lost miserably – proof that even the best campaign cannot sell what the public refuses to buy.
Polling day: democracy at play
I went to the Club yesterday to see democracy at work – or at least at play. The polling venue wore a festive look. Scores of ‘agents’ of contestants distributed pamphlets and printed cards seeking votes.
Huge flex banners with smiling faces of candidates and the posts they coveted adorned every inch of space. Canopies and small gazebos offered shade to agents as they sweated it out under the unforgiving sun.
The scale of canvassing made one wonder if it was a municipal election or an Assembly bypoll. Some contestants came as panels – complete with manifestos and matching T-shirts – while a few preferred to test their popularity as solo warriors.
Polling continued till 6 p.m., but the results reportedly came only around midnight. The victors celebrated late into the night – perhaps in proportion to the time and money they had invested.
Which brings one to the inevitable question: Do they contest to serve the journalist community, to develop the Club, or for some other loftier purpose? After all, who would spend so much time, energy, and money for a Press Club post – unless there is more to the story than meets the press?
Amid the entire process, what was missing was an exit poll and a model code of conduct.
