Veteran actresses Padmini Kolhapuri and Poonam Dhillon won the CINTAA executive committee elections with the maximum number of votes on Tuesday. While Padmini got 604 votes, Poonam got 601 votes. The election comes amid an ongoing legal dispute over the September 12 poll conducted by the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), in which Upasna Singh and Sahila Chadha got the highest number of votes.The Poonam-Padmini-led faction challenged that election, arguing that FWICE did not have the jurisdiction to conduct it.
‘Around 670 members voted on Tuesday’
Poonam says, “We had challenged the FWICE-conducted election in court because we do not believe FWICE had the jurisdiction to conduct it. We believe CINTAA should conduct its own elections, as has always been the practice. There were attempts to discourage our members from turning up and disrupt the process. Despite this, around 670 members voted on Tuesday, including senior artistes such as Anil Kapoor and Juhi Chawla.”With the court’s final decision still awaited, where it will evaluate both polls and decide which one is legally valid, the faction is also preparing for the next steps within the association. Poonam says, “Unlike last time, when we felt pressured into choosing people aligned with the other faction, we want to bring in those who will genuinely work for CINTAA. Having prominent names just for the sake of appearances serves no purpose. Ultimately, we want CINTAA to prevail and its own election to be recognised.”
Such a jubilant Dussehra: Padmini
About their victory, Padmini says, “Such a jubilant Dussehra! When the results were announced, I was welling up. For me, it was about the faith people had in me, Poonam and our committee, regardless of whom they voted for. It’s not just about me getting the highest votes. I’m touched that people have retained their faith in us. The fact that Poonam and I are at number one and two shows that nothing has shaken their faith.”Padmini says their next step will depend on the court ruling.“Once that is settled, we will get back into action, the way we were in 2024. We worked so hard for the members’ rights and welfare, and for needy members. So, we will get back into action if things work out well,” she adds.