Upasana Singh and Sahila Chadha Lead CINTAA Polls After Bitter Leadership Dispute

Actor Upasana Singh has emerged as the top vote-getter in the Cine and TV Artistes Association re-elections, securing 360 votes following a period of intense internal conflict and mass resignations within the entertainment industry body. The fresh polls, conducted on September 12, concluded after weeks of institutional friction that saw former office-bearers challenge the electoral process through the judiciary.

The high-stakes ballot followed a series of departures from the executive committee that ultimately triggered intervention by the Federation of Western India Cine Employees. The results position Singh at the forefront of the newly elected panel, closely trailed by Sahila Chadha, who gathered 357 votes in an election that drew active participation from prominent acting figures.

Following Singh and Chadha at the top of the ballot, the newly chosen executive panel features several established names from Indian cinema and television. Vikas Verma secured 349 votes, while veteran actor Deepak Parashar recorded 348 votes. Additional winning candidates include Kunickaa Sadanand with 312 votes, Varsha Usgaonkar Sharma with 306 votes, and Nagma Moraji with 290 votes.

Further down the voting tally, Nirmai Bali received 266 votes, Arjun polled 250, Asmaan Tahlim secured 237, Shehzad Khan attained 234, and Manish Kumar Chaturvedi registered 219. Additional positions on the broader representative list were filled by Sapan Kumar Bhattacharya with 197 votes, Ramtumar Singh with 184, and Ramakant Borude with 176 votes. Videos captured from the election venue showed winning members celebrating with flowers, cheers, and embraces.

The internal crisis leading to the vote began in August, when 11 members, including eight elected representatives from the 21-member committee, tendered their resignations. In a joint explanatory letter, the departing members alleged that the association had systematically drifted away from collective decision-making, formal consultation, and constitutional governance.

This mass departure sparked a bitter dispute over whether the executive committee stood legally dissolved. While one faction maintained that the committee's dissolution was complete and required immediate intervention, opposing representatives contested the narrative, setting the stage for prolonged administrative deadlock before the Federation of Western India Cine Employees stepped in to mandate fresh elections.

Prior to the scheduled ballot, former office-bearers Poonam Dhillon and Padmini Kolhapure approached the judiciary seeking an official stay on the re-elections. Their legal plea, however, was rejected by the court, allowing the electoral process to proceed as scheduled by the supervising federation.

Tensions peaked just 24 hours before the polls when allegations surfaced regarding an alleged attempt to remove official association documents from the CINTAA premises. Law enforcement officers were called to the Versova police station jurisdiction to restore order as members engaged in heated arguments on site.

During the police intervention at the association office, video footage captured law enforcement officials reprimanding participants over their conduct. Officers on the scene expressed sharp disapproval of the public dispute, reminding members of their public stature and warning against disruptive behavior.

Upasana Singh subsequently claimed that she and fellow members informed authorities that Dhillon and Kolhapure were no longer authorized to enter the premises after the election results gained approval. Both opposing factions maintained that their respective actions at the office were intended to safeguard the confidential personal information of CINTAA members.

Victorious candidates publicly acknowledged their supporters following the announcement of the vote counts. Nagma Moraji utilized social media to thank the association membership, writing on Instagram, "Appreciate All the Members of CINTAA for bestowing their trust in our Panel and making us win. Thank you for all your support. Victory is all yours."

Reflecting on the unexpected electoral margin, Deepak Parashar shared his perspective in an interaction with IANS, stating, "I did not expect this, I am surprised. I have won with very good votes. Now I just want to work for my CINTAA members. I would like them to come back and work with me. Thank you very much." Kunickaa Sadanand similarly emphasized the road ahead, noting that the association must now demonstrate genuine capability and justify the trust placed in them by the voting artists.