Day after the BCCI AGM, the elections are challenged in court

Day after the BCCI AGM, the elections are challenged in court: The double divided election of the BCCI is going to be challenged in the Bombay High Court over the decision to allow the Baroda Cricket Association president Samarjit Sinh Gaekwad to represent the BCA in the election.

Baroda Cricket Association representative Rakesh Parikh, who is also a Sharad Pawar loyalist, was disqualified from voting as two rival groups from the state turned up for the BCCIs Annual General Meeting.

Samarjitsinh Gaekwad, who is a member of Srinivasan camp, was allowed to participate in the proceedings and this led to resentment among rival members.

Amid all that the new BCCI President Jagmohan Dalmiya said, “It is a victory for cleansing of cricket. It is a victory of cricket to which we are wedded.”

President of the Mumbai Cricket Association, Sharad Pawar, claimed that Yadav’s decision to let Gaekwad was with an intention to favour Srinivasan and his aides. Pawar was quoted saying, “According to the Baroda Cricket Association constitution, the managing committee is to decide their representative for the AGM. But the candidate authorized by the managing committee wasn’t allowed to attend the meeting. Instead, the chairman of the AGM allowed the BCA president to represent the association,”

“Shashank Manohar pointed out to the chair that it wasn’t according to the BCA constitution and sought a clarification from Mr. Yadav. All he said was he had taken a decision and declined to explain the rationale behind the decision. As a result, the Baroda vote ended up going to the opposition camp. Had that not happened, the result would have reversed and we would have been in majority.”

Asked about the reasons for the disqualification, Yadav said,” I can’t tell you the reason. It is my prerogative. “After applying the rules and going through the respective files of the units, I came to the conclusion who is eligible to vote in the election.”

When he was told that the disqualified group may go to the court, Yadav put up a brave answer and said, “As far as members of the western unit contesting it in court are concerned, they are free to do that. How can I stop them? They are free to contest any decision in court.”