Intra-city battle in twin city takes centre stage as Odisha Cricket Association prepares for election
SportsCafe
The two most powerful positions in Odisha Cricket Association have been the target of two most powerful lobbies in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar and race to finish first has started taking the centre stage a month before the election. The BCCI has set September 14 as the date for the state election.
As reported by SportsCafe earlier, the OCA election had already gone into an uncertain position after the State Election Commission’s apprehension to appoint an electoral officer for the same purpose. As per the instruction of the Supreme Court of India, the state association should appoint a retired electoral officer for the smooth conduct of the election and even though the OCA working president Dhiren Palai sent several requests, no electoral officer was ready for the role.
While the reign of Ashirbad Behera as secretary of the association had come to an end in early 2017, there are several contestants secretly lobbying for the secretary and president position which has remained vacant ever since Behera and former India U-19 captain Ranjib Biswal, who also acted as the Indian team manager for the 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy, resigned from their positions of secretary and president respectively. Now, the lobby has become stronger in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar and it is almost certain that the positions of president and the honorary secretary would go to the bag of the Twin City.
While Behera is backing his elder son Sanjay Behera, who is currently working as the Football Association of Odisha secretary, for the secretary position, former Odisha Olympic Association vice-president Pankaj Lochan Mohanty has Behera’s backing as a presidential candidate. On the other hand, Behera’s bitter rivals in Cuttack, Pradeep Chauhan is himself ready to throw his hat into the ring for the secretary position and has full support for former OCA vice-president Nabaranjan Pattnaik to counter Mohanty.
However, for the first time since Behera’s reins in OCA, he found himself at a backfoot as Chauhan seems to have had the support of many clubs, schools, and colleges along with other district associations. The sources close to SportsCafe also revealed that Chauhan is also leading the charge and sponsoring all costs for the legal handling of clubs and colleges continuing the voting rights in the association.Â
“From the total of 70 votes available, Chauhan has the highest number of people on his side now but things are critical because the clubs and schools might not get the chance to vote as per the Lodha recommendations. If that happens, Ashirbad Behera, who has the backing of many district associations including the autonomous units and legacy members, might fancy his chances,” a top OCA official privy to the development told SportsCafe in the condition of anonymity.
As a matter of fact, 20 clubs, five colleges, and 10 schools from Cuttack, 30 districts, Bhubaneswar Cricket Association, Paradeep Port, KIIT, Rourkela Steel Plant, and East Coast Railway used to enjoy the voting rights of the association. While the proceedings are still uncertain, there's also some conundrum regarding the voting rights of the clubs, schools, colleges and legacy units but it is sure to bring back many old foes going against each other.
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