In an affidavit filed before the city civil court,Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has claimed that the courts order on BJP leader Gopinath Mundes petition might have an adverse effect on Sachin Tendulkars last and 200th test cricket match to be played at the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA)-owned Wankhede stadium from November 14 to 18. Pawar was replying to a petition filed by Munde against MCA,which had disqualified the latters nomination to contest for the Presidents position.
MCA has been honoured to conduct the match where legendary Sachin Tendulkar will be playing his 200th test match,before retiring from the test cricket. Sportspersons as well as dignitaries from various countries and various parts of India will be attending the match. Any interim order will be prejudiced to the interest of MCA and even to the interest of the nation, Pawars affidavit says.
Munde moved court last week,seeking a stay on Pawars appointment as president of the association and challenged the rejection of his application. Mundes application was rejected on the ground that his address on electoral records was Beed (in Maharashtra). He approached the appellate authority,which upheld the election officers decision. Following this,Munde approached court.
Mundes lawyer Vivekanand Gupta said Pawars claims were baseless. The courts decision will have no bearing on the test match. In the presidents absence,the vice-president is in charge, said Gupta.
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Pawar,who was elected unopposed as the president,had changed his residential address and included Mumbai address just days before the election date was announced. Munde challenged the MCAs terms and conditions to bar him from contesting on the basis of his residential address and alleged that this was never a parameter for elections earlier. Munde,although a registered voter from Beed,holds a passport issued in Mumbai.
Pawar has claimed that by merely owing a property in Mumbai,one cannot claim that he or she is a Mumbai resident. However,to support his claims that he was a permanent resident of Mumbai,he states that he owns a house at Walkeshwar and is a registered voter from Mumbai. He has also called Mundes claim baseless and with mala fide intentions.
sukanya.shetty@expressindia.com
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