BCCI polls today, and it’s not cricket

If it comes down to the casting vote, Dalmiya will end up choosing not just his successor but, in effect, writing his own future. As things stand, the election at the Taj Bengal Hotel will decide whether Indian cricket’s strongman will come out of the most torrid spell he has faced in his administrative career—or whether his innings will be up.

There are three theories doing the rounds:

• One, Sharad Pawar is set to end Dalmiya’s reign. The NCP leader and Union Agriculture Minister, his camp says, has finally secured the blessings of 10 Janpath and the CPI(M). The Congress controls six state associations and two institutional votes—Universities (HRD Ministry) and Services (Defence Ministry).

This notion was bolstered by Anil Biswas, secretary of the CPI(M) state committee, announcing today, ‘‘It’s unfortunate that politics has taken centrestage in cricket. However, since we are also a political party we had to take a stand. We are in favour of Sharad Pawar.’’ The CPI(M) controls no votes in the BCCI election but Somnath Chatterjee and Jyoti Basu are both close to Dalmiya. If the CPI(M) spokesman was speaking on behalf of the UPA coalition and reflecting the Congress’ view, then Pawar is home.

• Two, Ranbir Singh Mahendra, Dalmiya’s nominee and a minor Congress politician from Haryana, will win with a narrow majority. Mahendra put up a brave front today: ‘‘Both Mr Dalmiya and I are confident of a win. We have got the requisite numbers.’’

• Three, there’s an ace up Dalmiya’s sleeve. He realises Mahendra is too much of a lightweight to neutralise Pawar. He’s trying to persuade a former Indian Test captain, now based in Delhi, to stand. Till late night, the plan was still being spoken about but not confirmed. If it works out, the entry of the former captain—so well-regarded as to take the battle beyond petty party politics—will put Pawar in a moral dilemma.

All things considered, it is unlikely Pawar will actually contest an election tomorrow. He will either win unanimously or, if he finds the going impossible, retire with dignity.

Those are the theories and the stories. The reality is relatively bland. Dalmiya and Pawar met this evening, leading many to believe a truce was being discussed. Both sides were keen to discount the idea. ‘‘It was just a courtesy call,’’ said Dalmiya, ‘‘he has come to our city and that is why I had called on him.’’

As the evening rolled into the night of the long knives and lengthier deals, the Pawar camp grew upbeat. Raj Singh Dungarpur, president, Cricket Club of India, Mumbai, and a voter in the election, was already counting ballots, ‘‘No force can defeat Pawar sahab. We have got 17 and we hope the number will increase tomorrow.’’ Pawar was no less effusive. ‘‘I always contest to win,’’ declared the Maharashtra politician, likely to be nominated by the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) tomorrow. He reminded reporters that he had never lost an election. As it happens, neither has Jagmohan Dalmiya.