Despite the judiciary staying his suspension from the BCCI and allowing
him to fight the coming Cricket Association of Bengal polls, Jagmohan Dalmiya
today chose not to contest or put up a proxy candidate for the president's post.
Although Dalmiya's upbeat supporters filed nominations for key posts, the stage
is now set for an uncontested victory for incumbent Prasun Mukherjee in
the presidential race as the deadline for filing of papers for the July 28 CAB
elections expired at 4 pm.
Mukherjee, also the city police commissioner, had lost to Dalmiya
in the high-voltage CAB elections last year despite having the backing of West
Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee. But he ascended the
hotseat earlier this year, months after Dalmiya resigned following his suspsension
from the BCCI.
However, in what would definitely be a morale-booster for his
followers, the seasoned cricket administrator would now be able to attend the
CAB Annual General Meeting as the Calcutta High Court upheld his application
challenging the suspension.
The run-up to the elections has already seen several twists
apart from the latest reprieve for Dalmiya.
The former BCCI president lost the support of his erstwhile
mentor Biswanth Dutt and a sitting joint secretary ditched him to jump
into the electoral fray as part of Mukherjee's panel.
Former BCCI chief Dutt, who has solidly stood by Dalmiya in
previous elections, said he would not support any group.
He even went to the extent of praising Mukherjee. "Nobody
has told me anything against him. He is a gentleman".
|
