HYDERABAD: It was a rare incident-free day for Hyderabad cricket administration. The elections for the state cricket association, HCA, were conducted in the presence of the returning officer on Tuesday. A total of 206 of 218 members, representing as many clubs, cast their votes to elect office-bearers for five portfolios.
Contestants will look to the High Court on Wednesday, as declaring results have been put on hold following an earlier order. The elections have been marred by corruption allegations from both factions, after BCCI’s audit company Deloitte found irregularities in accounts.
Former India skipper Mohammed Azharuddin’s nomination for president was also rejected by the returning officer. He filed a petition with the Rangareddy district court on Tuesday, appealing the decision to debar him.
President aspirant G Vivekananda, a former MP and an advisor to the Telangana government, refuted claims made by former HCA supremo Arshad Ayub that he is a minister and that elections were not held following proper guidelines. Asked about the HCA constitution not being amended before elections, as recommended by the Lodha panel, Vivekananda said, “We accepted Lodha guidelines on November 20, and followed the proper path.”
He was referring to the adhoc committee, headed by Prakash Chand Jain, which accepted recommendations, but is yet to adopt them officially. Because of this, there are talks that the SC-appointed committee might dismiss the process and order fresh elections. “I’ve never attended a cabinet meeting. Neither was I sworn-in as a minister. I’m not even drawing salary,” Vivekananda refuted. T Sheshnarayan was the only valid candidate for the secretary’s post.
vishal@newindianexpress.com