Who would be the new BCCI head?

India news September 20, 2015

Power vacuum opens up leadership race

Nagraj Gollapudi24 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter How can the BCCI fill the post of its president, following the death of Jagmohan Dalmiya in Kolkata on Sunday?24 With Jagmohan Dalmiya's passing, Anurag Thakur might act as temporary BCCI head until a Special General Meeting is convened within a fortnight PTI

Over the past few months, Jagmohan Dalmiya's poor health had led to rumblings about whether he could continue as BCCI president for his third stint (including his interim period in 2013). As the 2015 BCCI elections drew close, there was talk among Dalmiya's opponents about trying to find a way to have him relinquish the position. However, the process to displace him was not as straightforward as they would have wished and so Dalmiya was neither formall y challenged nor forced to step down.

The way forward for the BCCI

What happens to the BCCI presidency?

The BCCI constitution says that if the president's post is vacated mid-tenure, "the secretary shall within fifteen days convene a Special General Body Meeting to elect the president who shall be nominated by at least one Full Member from the zone which proposed the name of the president whose term was cut short prematurely. Such person who is so elected shall hold office till the next elections". It would mean Anurag Thakur will run the BCCI's affairs until he convenes the SGM to elect Jagmohan Dalmiya's successor.

Can there be an election to decide the new president?

Yes. Since it is the East Zone's turn to nominate the president until 2017, and at least one affiliate unit from the zone has to propose a nominee, there is a possibility of up to six candidates entering the fray. All six affiliates - Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Assam, Tripura and Kolkata's National Cricket Club - had stuck together while proposing Dalmiya's name in March this year. However, both the pro- and anti-Srinivasan lobbies will likely be at work trying to gain those votes.

Who are the front-runners to take over as president?

Two months ago, former ICC and BCCI chief Sharad Pawar had told his colleagues in the Mumbai Cricket Association that he intended to take over as BCCI chief in the AGM. The AGM has been postponed but Pawar remains a favourite. Rajiv Shukla, the former BCCI vice-president and current IPL chairman, is also eyeing the post. If Shukla, who had lost the BCCI treasurer's election in March to Srinivasan loyalist Anirudh Chaudhry, does not generate support from the Srinivasan group, then Srinivasan may field one of his key aides - Chaudhry or joint secretary Amitabh Chaudhary.

A senior Board member, speaking with the benefit of hindsight, now says it was "foolish" of the members to elect Dalmiya in March 2015 when they knew such a situation was likely to arise, due to his fading physical condition. Yet the reality was that there was no choice: Dalmiya emerged a consensus candidate because neither of the two rival groups in the BCCI - one headed by N Srinivasan and the other a broad group of his opponents - could force their man through.

That rough equivalence of power remains today and is expected to trigger another round of jockeying for the top job. The anti-Srinivasan group now finds its unofficial and undeclared head in Anurag Thakur, who as board secretary holds the second-most powerful post. He latterly served as de facto head of the BCCI due to Dalmiya's ailments but has been the subject of much grumbling in the board's offices for his allegedly autocratic ways and unchecked power. Thakur's critics believe that the situation could have negative consequences on the autonomy of the board in light of the Supreme Court instructions to the Lodha Panel to recommend changes about the BCCI's constitution and manner of functioning.

Replacing Dalmiya will not be easy for other reasons too. BCCI rules state that the six members of the East Zone will have the first say in picking the replacement considering it is their turn to elect the president till 2017. The pre-requisite for a presidential candidate is attendance of at least two AGMs and having been an office bearer (president, secretary, treasurer, joint secretary) or vice-president earlier.

One of the most obvious potential candidates is Sharad Pawar, the Mumbai Cricket Association president, who is believed to have told his inner circle about his desire to lead the BCCI once again. But Pawar has decided to play the waiting game, not showing his hand, this modus operandi being the backbone of his longstanding success as a politician for more than half a century.

There is also Rajiv Shukla, who has been trying hard to lobby support in the East. And then there's the spectre of the invisible hand ruling the BCCI, that of the federal government - the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Members believe Thakur, who is a senior BJP MP, will not upset the party leadership, where it is believed that Srinivasan has the backing of a top BJP politician.

With inputs from Amol Karhadkar

ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

If it must be someone from East Zone, why not just put Dada there? And in the process, start the practice of making ex-Cricketers, rather than politicians or administrators the head of the organization?

I'm not going to name a specific person but I think an ex-cricketer should the new head

He is? Who was CAB chief b4 him - Dalmiya?

That will piss off Mamata - she just can't stand Dada.

Originally posted by: .Vrish.

He is? Who was CAB chief b4 him - Dalmiya?

That will piss off Mamata - she just can't stand Dada.

Yes. And its reverse of what you said. It was mamta who announced dada will be CAB chief . 😆

Things have changed? She hates him - or at least did. Dada supported the Tata Nano project in Singhur, which Mamata managed to sabotage, and he had good relations w/ the Left Front, which was another relation buster b/w them.