Scores of scribes, TV cameramen and a posse of policemen trying to limit their movement - this sight has become inseparable from elections Jagmohan Dalmiya fights and it’s no different this year after the BCCI battles of 2004 and 2005.
The only difference this time is that the former ICC and BCCI boss is waging a battle to save face and chair at the Cricket Association of Bengal and, going by indications on Wednesday, he has won the first round.
With the nomination forms of the 121 voters for Sunday’s annual general meeting being scrutinised by reigning president Dalmiya and challenger Prasum Mukherjee in the presence of court-appointed observer SK Foujdar, the ruling group succeeded in drilling holes in the vote bank of their opponents.
For starters, faults were found in the nomination forms of two clubs - Bata and Rangers - and they were disqualified. Questions were raised against the representatives from three more - Victoria SC, Narkeldanga Gurudas Institute, Ballygunge Sporting - and a decision on them will be taken on Thursday.
More importantly, all five were expected to vote against Dalmiya and the representative of Ballygunge Sporting, Raja Venkat, is a candidate for the post of joint-secretaries.
{{/usCountry}}More importantly, all five were expected to vote against Dalmiya and the representative of Ballygunge Sporting, Raja Venkat, is a candidate for the post of joint-secretaries.
{{/usCountry}}Sources said Ballygunge Sporting president Aloke Ganguly informed Foujdar that he had not signed Venkat’s nomination papers and so it should not be accepted. People backing the former player claimed the president wasn’t present at the meeting where the club members nominated Venkat.
The disputes mean that the list of voters couldn’t be released on Wednesday and is now expected on Thursday. In a way, it was the turn of those trying to end Dalmiya’s 14-year reign as CAB president to get a taste of the same method which had helped the wily administrator frustrate Sharad Pawar at the BCCI elections in 2004.