The final list has been decided and the battle lines are drawn for the Mumbai Cricket Association elections.
The final list has been decided and the battle lines are drawn for the Mumbai Cricket Association elections. The ruling group is led by Union Minister Sharad Pawar, who has been again elected unopposed as president, while the rival Bal Mahadalkar-group has the support of an equally powerful political leader, Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.
Deshmukh and Dilip Vengsarkar were elected unopposed as vice-presidents following the withdrawal of Shripad Halbe and Pravin Barve from the race yesterday in favour of the minister.
All eyes now are on the fight for the treasurer's post where Prof Ratnakar Shetty is pitched against Ravi Savant and the Jt Hon Secretary's chair where independent candidate Lalchand Rajput is contesting against incumbents Hemant Waingankar and Dr PV Shetty.
The last couple of elections have been one-sided. However, the seasoned election watchers refuse to predict the winners this time.
There has been a lot of chopping and changing in the final lists.
Shift
Both Savant and Rajput contested the last MCA elections from the Pawar-led group and have shifted loyalties this time. Kanga League secretary Vinod Deshpande, who is in fray for the managing committee, was originally named in the Pawar panel. He is now contesting from the Mahadalkar group. Pawar group loyalist Javed Rizvi has been taken as Deshpande's replacement. On the other hand, Pawar group managing committee candidate Iqbal Shaikh fought as an independent in the last election and is known to have a good equation with people from the Mahadalkar group.
With so many last-minute changes, the loyalties are naturally divided even among the election contestants.
"It is a khichdi (confusing) this time. Ek list ka zamana gaya (the time group loyalty is gone)," said an influential voter who is close to candidates from both groups.
"It's more about individual campaigning and personal equations could decide the outcome," the voter added.
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