Today's AGM was for approving the accounts of the company for 1997-98, reappointment of Garric d'Silva, managing director of the company as director, and increasing borrowing limit of the board from Rs 500 crore to Rs 600 crore. The shareholders also alleged that the management had passed various resolutions without the consent of small shareholders.

Even offers from the company to put resolutions to vote were rejected by the shareholders, who stormed the dais forcing postponement of the meeting to evening.

Later, a Whirlpool spokesman said the trouble was created by some "unruly elements", who were not genuine shareholders of the company. All the resolutions on theagenda were passed without any problem when the AGM was reconvened at 1600 hours, the spokesman said.

He said there was nothing unusual about the incident as unruly scenes were common at any company's AGM. It may be recalled that Whirlpool of the US acquired the stake of the TVS group in the company some years ago. As a result, the name of the company was changed to reflect the majority stake of the US firm in the Indian entity. Even as worldwide rival AB Electrolux of Sweden was engaged in a protracted negotiation with then J R Desai-controlled Kelvinator of India for a possible acquisition, Whirlpool swooped down to snap up the company which had been selling Kelvinator brand.