IHF presidency race: Patel enters fray

‘‘We are hoping to get a stay on the elections in the first place, but if that doesn’t happen, we are ready for elections,’’ sources said. ‘‘We are hopeful of the minister’s victory,’’ they added.

If this happens, it might well be one of the toughest elections for KPS Gill in his 12-year reign. Gill is already battling allegations of financial and administrative irregularities and with a case challenging his term as illegal up for hearing on Monday, a serious contender for the presidentship is the last thing Gill would want at this stage.

Though Gill is said to be unwell and repeatedly voiced his unwillingness to re-contest for another term at the helm of IHF, there is no doubt Patel would be a tough opponent if he does decide to contest.

Forty-eight-year old Patel is known to have played a major role in the re-election of Priyaranjan Dasmunshi as AIFF president last year, and was a key pointman in Sharad Pawar’s attempt to take control of the BCCI in 2004. Besides, Patel also happens to be the president of Western India Football Association, vice-president of All India Football Federation and a member of the Cricket Club of India as well as the National Sports Club of India.

As such, he has experience of elections for sports bodies; and being an astute politician and considered close to the top bosses in Congress, Patel’s nomination would mean an assured vote for him from at least the Congress-ruled state associations in the country, besides the institutional teams.

However, most things remain in the domain of supposition with none of the parties involved willing to come on record regarding the issue. Gill was unavailable for comments.