BCCI AGM: Big drama, small capsules

And then there’s Vidarbha’s Shashank Manohar who, when asked whether a meeting that hasn’t started be adjourned, launched into high-flown legalese. And when he saw the perplexed reporters scratching their heads, added, ‘‘Book on Law of Meetings, page no 61-62.’’

CALM AMID THE STORM
There was one surreal moment during the day that encapsulated what all this is about. The door to the meeting room was ajar and one saw the two biggies, Sharad Pawar and Jagmohan Dalmiya, engaged in a cordial discussion. While around them their lieutenants IS Bindra and Ranbir Singh Mahendra were speaking in raised voices and with pointed, accusatory fingers…

SOME GOOD NEWS?
There may yet be some good out of this chaos: A new BCCI constitution. Dalmiya revealed that, during the day, he discussed with Pawar the current muddle and ways to sort it out (so now we know what they were talking about). ‘‘Things would have been better had the election procedures been proper, with nomination procedures well in advance of the AGM’’, Dalmiya said.

Manohar, meanwhile, recalled that the BCCI had in 2000 formed a panel to fix loopholes in the constitution. After intensive research, it came up with a host of recommendations which were put in File C and never taken out.

DEAL FELL THROUGH
Was there a deal between the two sides that was broken? That’s what Farooq Abdullah — who nominated Sharad Pawar — claimed.

The J&K chief said the deal meant Mahendra would continue for another year, while Pawar would take charge next year. ‘‘But they just shot down the deal’’, he said. And though Dalmiya,Dungarpur and even Bindra dismissed it, a senior member of the ruling faction confirmed what Abdullah said.