© NDTV
If all goes well, Sharad Pawar is likely to return as president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. After N. Srinivasan told the Supreme Court on Friday that he will not take part in the Board's Annual General Meeting in Chennai on March 2 , Pawar's path to the top post in Indian cricket is looking clearer. The 75-year-old is expected to file his nomination on Sunday.
If Pawar files his nomination - he must be proposed and seconded by East Zone, whose turn it is to nominate a president - it is unlikely there will be a contest. Effectively, it will signal the end of the Srinivasan lobby that has controlled Indian cricket for almost six years. (Supreme Court's January 22 Order )
Srinivasan, rebuked by the Supreme Court for chairing a BCCI working committee meeting on February 8, finally withdrew from the fray after apologizing to the judges on Friday. The powerful Tamil Nadu businessman, who is the chairman of ICC, was desperately seeking a second term as BCCI boss. Reports even suggested that Srinivasan wanted current secretary Sanjay Patel to become the president and remote control the Board's affairs.
Pawar has emerged as the strongest candidate after Friday's developments in Supreme Court. He has the experience of being a BCCI president from 2005 to 2008 and was ICC president from 2010 to 2012. He currently heads Mumbai Cricket Association. Pawar has even met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a move that may swing a chunk of the 31 votes in his favour. (Suspense on Presidential Candidates Ahead of BCCI AGM )
Till Pawar submits his nomination, it will be foolish to ignore the Srinivasan camp. In BCCI's politics, there are no permanent friends on enemies. In 2008, Pawar and Srinivasan combined to oust Jagmohan Dalmiya, the powerful Cricket Association of Bengal president who continues to dictate terms in the Board. Today, Pawar and Srinivasan are arch-rivals and Dalmiya is a 'common' friend.
© AP
Dalmiya could emerge to be a strong candidate for BCCI president
Dalmiya controls two of the six East Zone votes. His name is also doing the rounds for the president's post but failing health may be a stumbling block. Dalmiya may finally settle for the ornamental position of patron-in-chief but for someone who remains extremely ambitious, nothing is for sure. With the Nationalist Congress Party's future paramount, Pawar's health is not exactly in great shape to manage the world's richest cricket Board.
BCCI remains a top heavy organization. The president runs the Board and usually choses his men for the key positions. With the BJP government controlling at least eight votes, whoever become the BCCI president will have to accommodate a few key posts. Two men - former secretary Sanjay Jagdale and Maharashtra's Ajay Shirke - could find themselves in Pawar's 'clean' image panel.
The biggest fear against Pawar is that Lalit Modi, blacklisted by the Srinivasan regime, may make a return to Indian cricket. Lalit Modi is known to enjoy the backing of Pawar, but in the current scheme of things, the old equations may not work.
Will Arun Jaitley play king-maker?
© AFP
The next 24 hours will see some hectic behind-the-scene lobbying and calculations. Will Srinivasan throw in the towel or is there a twist in the tale? It is hard to imagine that that Srinivasan will give a walkover on home turf, Chennai.
One man who is not going to rest is Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. He is going to play the role of king-maker and has to address a different 'budget' over the weekend. Dealing with super-heavyweights, it's going to be a taxing assignment for sure.
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