Jagmohan Dalmiya re-elected BCCI president
Jagmohan Dalmiya tightened his grip on the Board of Control for Cricket in India after being re-elected unopposed as president and ensuring the victory of S K Nair as BCCI secretary.
With his detractors failing to put up a candidate for the president's post, the 60-year-old former International Cricket Council president's re-election was a foregone conclusion.
Instead, attention at the 73rd Annual General Meeting of the board was focussed on the duel for the secretary's post.
Dalmiya's nominee, BCCI Finance Committee chief Nair ousted present incumbent Niranjan Shah by a margin of 18-12, with one vote out of the 31 polled being invalid.
At the last AGM in Chennai, Dalmiya's nominee Jaywant Lele, who was then secretary, lost to Shah, who was fielded by the A C Muthiah camp, by a single vote. Muthiah had then cast the decisive vote in Shah's favour.
Soon after his victory Dalmiya expressed happiness at the faith reposed in him by the board members.
"I shall work to the best of my ability to serve the
interest of the board and that of Indian cricket," a beaming
Dalmiya said.
The BCCI chief said elections are an integral part
of democracy. "But it has been a time-tested tradition of the
board that once elections are over we always work together
for the cause of cricket."
Describing Shah as a "good worker", Dalmiya said, "In
democracy sometimes elections become inevitable."
Sixty-five-year-old Nair, a former BCCI treasurer, said
he is looking forward to working with Dalmiya and tackling the
challenges before the board.
"This is an opportunity as well as a challenge for me to work hard."
However, he refused to answer questions on the players'
contract and the logo controversy, saying he needs time to understand the issues.
"I have just been elected. Give me some time to get
settled and understand the issue," he said.
On persistent queries on the sponsorship issue, he
said, "The issues are being taken up at the appropriate level. The
board has a very effective administrative set-up."
When reminded that he won a crucial election, Nair
said, "Every election is crucial. I hope I can prove myself."
Dalmiya's other nominees were elected unopposed to the other
posts as well. While Kishore Rungta was re-elected treasurer,
former Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Mohanta, Ranvir Singh,
Ranga Reddy, Narhari Amin and Kamal Morarka were unanimously
elected vice-presidents for the five regions.
Jyoti Bajpai was elected unopposed as joint secretary.
Former batsman Brijesh Patel, who scored 972 runs in 21 Tests for India in the mid-1970s, replaced Chandu Borde as chairman of the national selection committee.
Other new selectors are former Test all-rounder Kirti Azad, former India wicketkeeper Kiran More and Pranab Roy, who played two Tests against England in the 1981-82 season.
They replace Madan Lal, Ashok Malhotra and Borde.
Sanjay Jagdale retained his place in the five-man committee for another year
Dalmiya's aides, who had expected Nair to get over 20 votes,
felt that some voters rooted for Shah on personal equations.
"He [Shah] has worked hard. He has good personal
relations with everyone. Naturally, some voters, whom we
expected to vote for Nair, voted for him," sources in the
Dalmiya camp said.
Accepting defeat gracefully, Shah said the election
only showed that the BCCI is run on democratic lines.
"Winning and losing are part of the game. My best wishes to Nair."
Also read:
The Jagmohan Dalmiya interview
Dalmiya elected BCCI president
Mail Cricket Editor
