Dalmiya throws challenge at BCCI

Having won the presidential race for the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) against heavy odds, Jagmohan Dalmiya today threw the gauntlet at the Indian board (BCCI), asserting that its efforts to malign him would not go 'unchallenged'.

"I don't believe in witch-hunting, but a lot of wrong has been done to me [by the BCCI]. This is not cricket. I can only say that whatever they do will not go unchallenged," Dalmiya told a media meet after defeating challenger Prasun Mukherjee, the Kolkata Police Commissioner.

"I will prove the truth. I needed a platform to bring truth to the fore. That is why I chose to fight the elections despite the chief minister's [Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee] advice not to contest."

Pointing out that the board had suspended him from attending its meetings, slapped two show cause notices and even filed an FIR against him, Dalmiya said "I won't be vindictive. But it has to come out who is the real culprit."

Asked how he proposed to utilise the CAB platform to fight the BCCI, Dalmiya said, "I myself don't know. How we deal will not be in my hand. It is so confidential that I would like to keep it with me."

Dalmiya evaded a question whether he would appear before the BCCI Disciplinary Committee in the near future. "Leave the matter to me and my legal advisers. I was contemplating retirement from the cricket administration, but the peculiar way things turned out, I was forced to fight the CAB elections as I needed a platform."

On receiving cooperation from the Kolkata Police, "Why won't I? Such apprehension should not be there. It is a democratic election and it is now over."

Questioned if he had anything to say against West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who had publicly asked him not to contest the CAB election, Dalmiya said "I respect the chief minister. We need the support of the government to run the game and I have no apprehension."