06 July,2011 07:53 AM IST | | Ravi Kiran Deshmukh & Clayton Murzello
Permanent address clause may affect Vilasrao Deshmukh too if former chief minister decides to contest MCA polls
It is now clear that Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) will have a new president after Sharad Pawar backed out of the race for the July 15 elections yesterday.
According to sources, Pawar decided not to seek re-election because of a threat of an objection from the opposition to his Baramati address.
Vilasrao Deshmukh
As per the MCA constitution, the president, vice-president, honorary treasurer, joint honorary secretary or member of the managing committee must be a permanent resident of Greater Mumbai or Thane District.
Former Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who is reportedly in the fray for the president's post, may have a permanent address-related hurdle before the final nominations are expected to be announced today.
Deshmukh's permanent address mentioned on the Rajya Sabha website is Babhalgaon, Taluka & Distt- Latur.
However, his supporters are hoping that his Mumbai residential proof will allow him to contest.
The political class, whose association with other sports bodies is threatened these days, may be looking at the cricket organisations as a safe bet.
Deshmukh, who was quite an unfamiliar face in cricket until he joined Mazgaon Cricket Club, sprang a surprise by entering MCA as a vice-president. His new assignment was viewed as another Pawar ploy to control the country's richest cricket body.
But it may go in vain with the little known clause of the permanent residence which Deshmukh may not contest looking at his adherence to his Latur address.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
There is a chance that the Pawar-Bal Mahaddalkar Group will join hands with Deshmukh. Other sources say the Pawar-Bal Mahaddalkar group may also announce former vice-president Ravi Sawant as their candidate for the top post.
Dilip Vengsarkar, who is the only candidate to announce his intention to contest for the president's post, said he has received overwhelming response while meeting voters.
"The response has been fantastic, amazing. The voters want cricketers to run the association," a confident Vengsarkar told MiD DAY last night.
When asked for his reaction to Pawar backing out of the race, he said: "I am only focussing on my election campaign and my group."
Pawar's ten-year reign as MCA chief has thus ended. He defeated former India captain Ajit Wadekar for the top post in 2001.
A new era in Mumbai cricket is set to begin, but these are early days where drama and intrigue is concerned.
