Union Minister Deshmukh's entry in MCA polls causes shock and awe
Union Minister Deshmukh's entry in MCA polls causes shock and awe
There's some stiff opposition to those hoping to get voted as one of the two vice-presidents of the Mumbai Cricket Association. For, opposition comes in the form of Vilasrao Deshmukh, the former chief minister of Maharashtra.
"When it was announced that Mr Deshmukh will contest for the vice-president's post, we were shocked. Very few of us had an inkling of this happening," said a member of the ruling group last night.
No contest
Deshmukh's name was brought up in a few election campaigns in recent years but the politician never entered the fray. Now that he has thrown his hat in, chances of another candidate from the ruling group joining Dilip Vengsarkar as the second vice-president in the association have taken a beating. The ruling group has no problems with that though.
Vengsarkar, it is learnt, will be a clear winner as vice-president considering his good work for the association and his stature of a Mumbai stalwart.
Deshmukh will now stand a chance of heading the association in case Pawar decides to put a full stop to his cricket administration stint. It could also mean that Vengsarkar won't end up heading India's premier cricket body in a few years' time. However, funnier things have happened in cricket administration.
Delhi angle
When MiD DAY asked a current administrator to find out what is the level of Deshmukh's cricket interest, he said, "I have no idea. Looks like the decision to contest has been triggered off by a senior leader in New Delhi."
Deshmukh, Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises sent his nomination to contest for the July 10 elections yesterday. Deshmukh and Vengsarkar will be pitted against Shripad Halbe and Pravin Barve. Former India player Lalchand Rajput who was in the Pawar group, decided to move away and contest for the joint secretary's post. Dr P V Shetty and Hemant Waigankar are the current post holders. Meanwhile, Ravi Sawant, who recently quit as vice-president, will slug it against Prof Ratnakar Shetty, for the treasurer's post.
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