New Delhi, 07 May (H.S.): Arvind Bhalchandra Mardikar has once again been unanimously elected as Chairman of the multilingual news agency Hindusthan Samachar. He was elected unopposed for a second consecutive term during the special annual general meeting of Hindusthan Samachar Cooperative Society (Ltd.) held in New Delhi on Wednesday (May 6). Senior journalist Padma Bhushan Rambhadracharya Rai and noted social worker Ravindra Manilal Sanghvi were also re-elected to the Board of Directors.

The special annual general meeting of HS, held in the Umang Auditorium at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in New Delhi, also served as the election assembly this year. The new Board was constituted alongside the Chairman's election. Nagpur resident Arvind Bhalchandra Mardikar was unanimously re-elected Chairman for the next three years. He had first been elected unopposed in 2023. Padma Bhushan Rambhadracharya Rai and Ravindra Manilal Sanghvi (Mumbai) were re-elected Board members for the next three-year term.

Senior journalist and former media advisor to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Ashok Tandon, joins as a new Board member. Previously special invitees Pareshkant Prem Manohar Manglik (Mumbai) and Mangal Pratap Pandey (Ranchi), along with prominent Indore businessman Kamal Kant Vashishth, have been elected to the Board. Advocate and election officer Ajit Kumar conducted the proceedings as per regulations.

Following his re-election, all Board members congratulated Chairman Arvind Mardikar. Senior journalist Rambhadracharya Rai highlighted Mardikar's remarkable achievements throughout his journey, particularly noting how he prioritized HS while facing every challenge. Ravindra Sanghvi stated that HS's future is secure in the hands of their indefatigably energetic Chairman, ensuring continued progress. Board members lavishly praised Mardikar for strengthening HS financially during his tenure, expanding the institution through various programs, and enhancing its credibility and prestige. In his vote of thanks, Mardikar credited all successes to the hard work and dedication of his colleagues at the institution.

Notably,Arvind Mardikar joined the Board in 2016 when HS was entrusted to noted industrialist and SISK founder R.K. Sinha for management. He was elected Vice Chairman at the annual general meeting in May 2018. Amid the highly challenging COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, he was entrusted with Acting Chairman responsibilities.

Following R.K. Sinha's resignation in April 2022, Arvind Mardikar was appointed Chairman for the remaining one-year term. He was unanimously elected for his first full term in May 2023.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar