HYDERABAD: Noise over the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) elections does not seem to subside. Hours before the polls slated for Tuesday, a new development surfaced on Monday.
Former HCA president Arshad Ayub claimed that one of his faction’s members — Vanka Pratap — will contest for the post of joint secretary. “Vanka has been allowed by the high court to contest. I don’t know whether the elections will be held on Tuesday,” Ayub told Express.
The former Hyderabad cricketer’s candidature had earlier been rejected by returning officer (RO) K Rajeev Reddy. He said the court order makes him eligible. “I had filed a writ petition in the afternoon and I can also run for office since the court has permitted me. I had applied for multiple posts but withdrew before the deadline. He (Reddy) stated that since I had applied for multiple posts, my name was rejected,” said Vanka Pratap.
However, when contacted by this newspaper, the RO said he was not aware of the development. “I have not received any information regarding this. As soon as I get the order, he will be allowed to contest,” Reddy noted.
Interestingly, Ayub, who has repeatedly termed the election process “illegal”, said he would cast his vote on Tuesday. The polls can still be deemed illegal by the Lodha panel, because the HCA has not amended its constitution according to guidelines. The process has seen its share of controversies, following Mohammad Azharuddin’s decision to contest for president and his nomination being rejected by the RO.
The final list of contestants has 15 names after two “retired from the contest”, according to the RO. T Sheshnarayan is the sole candidate for secretary. A total of 218 members are expected to vote between 10 am and 2 pm at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.
Back on December 23, the fifth Additional District Court of Ranga Reddy had ruled elections should be held after former executive committee member Sheshnarayan had filed a petition saying that the polls were delayed on purpose. Earlier, the Registrar of Societies (Ranga Reddy) had ordered fresh elections, stating that the tenure of the HCA office-bearers was over. The results are to be withheld until further court orders with doubts remaining over the validity of the polls since it flouts Lodha committee’s recommendations. Even the RO is not from the central or state election commission, as specified.
vishal@newindianexpress.com