The stage is all set for the annual general meeting and elections to the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA), which is scheduled at newly-built international stadium in Ranchi on Saturday. Polling will be held from 9.30 am to 12.30 noon.
JSCA officials have requested Ranchi SSP Saket Kumar Singh to deploy adequate number of forces at the venue of the election. Sources went on to inform that sub-divisional officer (SDO) Dhalbum, Subodh Kumar on Friday submitted his report to the deputy commissioner.
When contacted Kumar said, “I cannot reveal much on the report submitted to the DC but yes things are much clear now and the election will take place tomorrow. JSCA secretary Rajesh Verma has not requested the district administration to hold elections under its supervision. We cannot interfere”.
It may be recalled that former Ranji cricketer and Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) member Manoj Yadav had lodged a complaint with the East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Himani Pande, alleging violations of JSCA by-laws.
Yadav also wrote another letter to IG-registration requesting him to ensure the compliance of his order dated May 21 in which he had instructed secretary Rajesh
Verma to conduct the polls for the post of president and other office-bearers slated to be held on May 25 in the international sports complex at Ranchi under the supervision of deputy commissioner in a free and fair manner.
Meanwhile returning officer Amarendra Kumar Singh said the AGM will be held in Ranchi as scheduled. All preparations have been made for the peaceful conduct of the polls.
Incumbent president and Additional Director General rank IPS official Amitabh Choudhary, who had defeated the then sports minister Sudesh Mahato in 2006 to retain his chair, has been challenged for the post by yet another IPS and DIG Praveen Kumar this time round. The contest has taken an ugly turn as the opposition has openly alleged that the incumbent management was using ‘unfair’ means to manipulate the election in favour of Choudhary and his team.
Choudhary, who is deemed a ‘stalwart’ in the cricket arena of the country and had at least twice played the role of Team India manager had even defeated the then sports minister Sudesh Mahato in the JSCA election in 2006. The cricket pundits in the state see the odds in his favour again but give points to Singh for daring to challenge his monopoly.
Elections will take place for the following posts of the committee of management - president, vice-presidents (2), secretary (1), treasurer (1) and committee members (5) will be held. In all, JSCA has 742 life members. A total of 29 candidates are in fray for the elections, held every four years. However, the JSCA is conducting polls even though the tenure of the present committee is supposed to end by August 31, 2014.