Last minute consensus can’t be rule out, say insiders
Srinagar: Elections for appointing new office bearers to the state’s top sports body, Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association are set to be held at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) here on Monday.
The elections, being held for the first time after surfacing of the multi-crore scam, would be keenly watched with factionalism having taken toll on the Association over past few years, putting cricketing affairs on the back seat.
After the multi-crore scam, other minor and major scams cropped in JKCA, involving both former and current officials.
With probe in all the scams yet to be completed, all eyes would be on the highly awaited JKCA working committee meeting on Monday, during which elections for top posts will be held.
Interestingly, incumbent President Dr Farooq Abdullah has already announced that he would not be contesting elections, this time round. However, both the factions in the association have been saying that they would not allow Dr Farooq to quit “as JKCA needs him in these bad times the most”.
However, there are differences over choice of candidates for other important posts of office bears including the General Secretary, Treasurer and Chairman.
In the “out of power faction” former secretary, ML Nehru, has emerged as a unanimous choice for the all important General Secretary’s post. With the other faction yet clear in its stand on the post, the out of power faction looks like getting away with their choice.
The last elections of the cricket body were held in 2011 in which Dr Farooq Abdullah, who has been heading the body for close to three decades, was re-elected as President, unopposed. Ahsan Mirza was elected general Secretary while Aslam Goni was elected as Chairman.
However after unearthing of the multi-crore scam, Mirza, Goni and administrative officer Saleem Khan had to resign from their respective posts.
“We are clear in our choice and we have got support from members in both the provinces. Despite being out of power, we are in majority. We will show that tomorrow as it will be our candidates who will be elected for the top posts,” said a senior member of the faction.
“ML Nehru is our choice for General Secretary while for other posts there are lots of deliberations going on. We can’t disclose the names ahead of elections as a lot is at stake,” he said.
Sources in JKCA say that unknown members could end up as big gainers in the elections. “This is the time for bargaining and secret pacts. Closed door meetings are being held which include late night deliberations. There is every likely chance for mutual consensus during the election drama,” he added.
“Elections have always been fishy in JKCA with voters (members) being lured by various offers. It is time for members to press for their demands and get something out of nowhere. They know it is the only time when they can bargain as for rest of the time they are sidelined,” sources said.
About the chance of mutual consent for candidature of various posts an insider said, “I have been with JKCA from last three decades and I am of the opinion that anything can happen here. You can’t guess when foes turn into friends overnight. So I am keeping my fingers crossed for a surprise tomorrow morning”.
Meanwhile a senior member from the faction that is currently running JKCA affairs when asked about the candidature of Manzoor Wazir for the General Secretary post said: “We are keeping our options open as we have certain things to look for. Manzoor is the prime candidate from our group but there are others also who will suit the post”.
About the issues that the faction will raise in the meeting he said, “Scam is our prime issue and we want money to be accounted back into JKCA coffers”.
The other faction said that they have plenty of issues to highlight in the meeting including the certificate scam and dubious selection process.
“We will raise scams as well but the prime issue should be cricket as dubious selections have been going on for last two years,” he said.
Meanwhile, when contacted JKCA Treasurer and In-charge activities Manzoor Wazir said,” All the arrangements are ready. However the list of members is with JKCA President Dr Farooq Abdulllah which he has not disclosed yet”.