Asiatic Society of Mumbai holds governing body elections after eight-month delay

The Asiatic Society of Mumbai held its highly anticipated governing body elections on Saturday at the society's office in Mumbai. The elections, which were delayed by eight months due to legal disputes, saw 45 candidates competing for 19 seats on the governing body. A total of 2,530 eligible members of the society were cleared to cast their votes during the polling window.

The voting process was conducted between 10 am and 4 pm at the society's office. To participate in the election, eligible voting members were required to bring and present their valid membership identity cards. The final list of voters eligible to participate in the election was published on the Asiatic Society's official website and was also put on display on the physical notice board at the venue.

This year's election has emerged as one of the most closely watched and keenly contested polls in the 222-year history of the prestigious institution. Observers noted that the unusual level of interest in this election cycle was driven by a significant surge in membership applications, alongside the unprecedented entry of panels backed by prominent political figures.

The contest featured three distinct panels vying for control of the 19 seats. One of the primary 19-candidate panels was led by Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, a former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP). Another full 19-candidate panel was headed by Kumar Ketkar, a senior journalist and former Congress Rajya Sabha MP. A third, independent panel of seven candidates was led by R. Venkatesh.

The election was originally scheduled to be held on November 7, 2025. However, the process faced an eight-month delay after multiple complaints and petitions were filed before the Charity Commissioner and the Bombay High Court, leading to legal disputes that put the voting on hold until Saturday.