Next months Mumbai Cricket Association election has thrown up an array of intriguing cast and characters,striking uncharacteristic alliances in the run-up to what is nothing short of crickets grand provincial palace politics. Related: Mazgaon CC want weeks postponement to MCA polls This latest tug-of-war over the game will see Congress and BJP leaders cohabiting to take on the might of an NCP stalwart. Second innings: Pawar to contest MCA elections A seat of cricketing power,MCA has served as a stepping stone to the top job in BCCI and with the Indian board itself in a sort of flux after N Srinivasans hold on his position became tenuous,battle lines are being drawn along unexpected faultlines. In the most recent development,Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan joined the bandwagon,registering as the new representative of the MCA-affiliated Mazgaon CC,which is a clear indication that the high profile politician will contest elections for the MCA chiefs post. This would mean a likely face-off against Sharad Pawar,the union Agriculture Minister and a cricket administration heavyweight. Chavan confirmed he would represent Mazgaon Cricket Club at the MCA. He,however,refused to assign any political meaning to the development. The list of big names among Maharashtra politicians does not stop at the perennially feuding ruling alliance partners. The word floating around cricketing circles is that senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde has been granted representation by Stylo Cricketers,paving the way for him to contest the vice presidents post,alongside Chavan. His name is expected to be submitted by Tuesday evening,the final date for clubs to change their representatives before MCAs biennial elections take place on October 18. Shah Alam Shaik,authorised signatory of both Mazgaon CC and Stylo CC,didnt want to comment on Mundes arrival in the MCA. He said Chavan has been passionate about cricket like everyone else. Its up to him whether to contest MCA elections or not. Our club was earlier represented by the late Vilasrao Deshmukh but after his demise we wanted someone big to fill his shoes. Chavan sahab is the right man for it, Alam said. Alams election panel will do what most havent - bringing the Congress and BJP on the same side of an election. However,the mix gets interesting because Pawar also has a well-known BJP face on his side - the partys Mumbai president Ashish Shelar. Shelar,who lost last time by a narrow margin,told The Indian Express he wanted to contest the MCA elections. As of today,we have been told that Pawar will be contesting elections and we are all charged up about him coming back. We all know what he can bring to the table, MCA joint-secretary Nitin Dalal,who will also be contesting from the Bal Mahaddalkar group,said. Vijay Patil,owner of D Y Patil cricket stadium and son of Bihar Governor D Y Patil,is also contesting for the MCAs vice-president post through a third group called Cricket First. What we have been hearing is that Sharad Pawar will be contesting MCA elections. So as a show of respect we have decided not to have anyone contesting against him. He has done so much for Mumbai and it will be unfair to have someone contesting against him, said Vijay Patil. However,Chavan was not the only new political name to enter the MCA list. The association also received a change in representation of the Dadar Parsee Zoroastrian club,which has now transferred it to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) MLA Nitin Sardesai. Other names expected by Tuesday are of Unmesh Joshi,son of former CM Manohar Joshi of Shiv Sena. Veteran Shiv Sena leader Subhash Desai too has acquired representation from Prabodhan Goregaon. To contest MCA elections,members need to have representation of its affiliated clubs - a total of 329 in the city. Other well-known politicians who have been representatives of various clubs include the Shiv Senas Thackerays - Uddhav and his son Aditya. Other prominent political names include Uddhavs personal secretary Milind Narvekar,who also has a club in his name. Rajya Sabha member from Shiv Sena Anil Desai,Maharashtras industry minister Narayan Rane,Rahul Shewale of Shiv Sena,NCPs Mumbai president Jitendra Avhad and another minister,Sachin Ahir,are also enlisted as representatives of various clubs.
