Journalism of Courage
On the day he was elected unopposed as Mumbai Cricket Association president,Sharad Pawar made it clear that he had no plans to hold a top BCCI post because he was hard-pressed for time and wanted to focus on developing his association.
Pawars return to MCA was seen as his re-entry into BCCI,however,the veteran politician denied he harboured any such ambitions again.
I dont have time for BCCI. I dont have to go there,I might go for meetings but I dont have time to take up the responsibility. I want to do something for my home association now, Pawar said after MCAs annual general body meeting here on Friday.
Despite winning,Pawar stated that he had been hopeful of some sort of a contest for the top post. Earlier,BJP leader Gopinath Mundes nomination had been rejected paving the way for Pawars return to helm MCA.
Im unhappy today despite winning,because I never wanted to get elected unopposed. I was hoping for a contest. Election is a democratic process and I was hoping someone would challenge me, Pawar said.
We will try and create more infrastructure so that players will get more opportunities to practice and improve.Also all the groups will come together and work as one unit, Pawar said.
Pawars return to the MCA fold was welcomed by Punjab Cricket Association president IS Bindra,who is one of the dissenting voices against the current BCCI president N Srinivasan.
There is nothing wrong in politicians or for that matter civil servants heading the sports bodies. It is good that he Pawar wants to come back and still wants to make contribution to the sport.
Pawar has appointed a committee,which will meet on October 21,to decide on details of the felicitation for Sachin Tendulkar,who will be playing his final Test at Wankhede next month.
Pawar-ful group
The Bal Mahaddalkar group dominated the MCA elections in which they grabbed all major posts. Ravi Savant won the vice-presidents post whereas Nitin Dalal and PV Shetty retained their joint-secretary posts. Vinod Deshpande pipped Mayank Khandwala to become the MCA treasurer,whereas Vijay Patil of Cricket First group retained his post as vice-president.
Former India pacer Abey Kuruvilla and Lalchand Rajput made their entry into the managing committee. Out of 329 Clubs,318 members turned up for the elections.
Election results:
MCA president: Sharad Pawar unoppossed; MCA vice-president: Ravi Savant 159 and Vijay Patil 198 votes,Pankaj Thakur 146; Treasurer: Vinod Deshpande,162; PV Shetty 203 votes,Nitin Dalal 169 votes; Managing committee: Nadeem Memon 179,Deepak Patil 176,Lalchand Rajput 176,Arvind Kadam 170,Abey Kuruvilla 169,Sanjay Patil 169,Vazge 167,Arman Mallick 145,Shrikant 145,Navin Shetty 143,Deepak Murkar 141.
