Backroom action heats up

Intense backroom politics and unending speculation over possible electoral contests have given a dramatic twist to the two-day Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) beginning on September 22.

The centre of activity is fast shifting to a five-star hotel - which has been the venue for the past three AGMs - in South Kolkata with the arrival of the principal players owing allegiance to the two rival factions. Ranbir Singh Mahendra, BCCI President, is already in town and so is the ruling group, led by Jagmohan Dalmiya, former Board chief. They have been engaged in meetings among themselves to finalise the strategy for the elections.

Sharad Pawar, a political heavyweight, who unsuccessfully contested against Mahendra last year, is at the centre of all discussions. The opposing lobby has been repeatedly claiming that he would throw his hat in the ring again.

Terming the Indian cricket board's conduct during the past one year as a "disgrace", Raj Singh Dungarpur, former BCCI chief, today said that Sharad Pawar would contest for the president's post.

"As far as my knowledge goes, Pawar is contesting," Dungarpur told PTI over phone from Mumbai.

Expressing confidence that Pawar, who had unsuccessfully fought for the top BCCI post last year, would emerge victorious this time, Dungarpur said, "last year also he would have won, but it was Dalmiya who fixed it first by throwing out two of our supporters from the AGM and then by his casting vote. Thankfully, this time Dalmiya will not be presiding".

A BCCI functionary belonging to the ruling faction, however, said "If they (Pawar and his group) want a contest, we have nothing to say. They will again bite the dust."

Dungarpur's claims notwithstanding, speculation continues over Pawar's candidature as he has been non-committal about the entire issue. According to the BCCI constitution, a representative could announce his candidature even on the floor of the AGM when it is held here on September 22-23.

Asked whether his faction would opt for another candidate in case Pawar declined to contest, Dungarpur shot back: "Have you ever asked Dalmiya who he would back if R S Mahendra chooses to stay out of the race?"

In preparation for the elections Justice Suhas Chandra Sen, a retired judge of the Supreme Court, has been appointed by the Calcutta High Court as the observer for the upcoming BCCI elections.