I'll contest MCA elections: Shetty

Prof Ratnakar Shetty's hopes of contesting next month's biennial elections of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) received a huge boost after the Bombay High Court upheld the stay order of the City Civil court.

Ratnakar Shetty

The City Civil court earlier this month had ordered a stay on MCA's five-year ban on Shetty for his alleged black marketing remarks against office-bearers. Last week, the Association moved the Bombay High Court, challenging the stay order. On Saturday, their appeal wasu00a0dismissed.

The managing committee which met later in the day accepted Shetty's nomination as a representative of Bombay Union Sports Club. Shetty had to fend for a new club after Wilson College Gymkhana removed him as their representative following MCA's ban.

Soon after getting a relief from the HC, Shetty announced forming a panel. "I will form my group (for the elections). I will also contest. My group members will decide the post later," Shetty told Sunday MiD DAY minutes after the final verdict.

Though the court has overruled MCA's ban on Shetty, the decks are not yet cleared for the former vice-president of the association to contest the forthcoming elections.

Recently, the MCA made an amendment to its election bylaws, wherein anyone permanently employed with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Indian Premier League, Mumbai Indians or the Garware Club House will not be allowed to contest MCA elections. Coaches and selectors though have been exempted from this ruling as they are appointed for a fixed tenure.

Shetty, who is BCCI's General Manager (Game Development), said he would challenge the MCA's amendment in the court. There is a theory doing the rounds that Shetty may resign from the BCCI in order to be eligible for the MCA elections if the legal route would take extra time. Shetty chose to keep mum.

"I am prepared to fight it out. We will see how to tackle it," he said. Regarding HC's outcome, Shetty said: "Truth has prevailed. Justice has been done to me. The issue I had raised in the Annual General Meeting (in March) was in the interest of the MCA. I had no other intention."u00a0