Match is over but defiant Dalmiya disputes the score

Interestingly, Assam representative Gautam Roy was seen by many in the run-up to the elections as a dodgy loyalist for Dalmiya. But MP representative Sanjay Jagdale, who has been named the national selector, was clearly a shock for the Dalmiya camp when he switched to Pawar’s side on the floor itself.

Dalmiya himself may still put up a defiant face, threatening to take matters to the Supreme Court yet again, arguing that the SC-appointed observer TS Krishnamurthy “didn’t do his duty properly by granting affiliations to associations wrongfully”. “For the secretary and joint-secretary’s posts, it’s 18-13. We will go to court and get the margin changed to 16-15, I’m sure about that,” Dalmiya thundered shortly after the election got over.

Sources disclosed that the ousted administrator is eagerly waiting for December 12, the day on which the apex court will hear out the BCCI election results and pass judgment on the validity of the four disputed associations who anyway were given the right to vote today.

While Dalmiya is in no mood to take things lying down and soften his stand, as it was learnt, it is the tinge of Congress support that has further put him off. “Dalmiya himself has never been very deeply involved in utilising political influence for elections. So, once he realised that Pawar was making use of the political support, he became completely upset. He just can’t accept it,” the source said.

The ousted lobby, despite being crestfallen, has clearly made its next move known — wait for December 12 when the Supreme Court takes up the matter, and then present their case.