Race wide open for MCA president’s post after Shelar’s BCCI move

Presidential candidate Sandeep Patil, the former India batsman, is likely to face competition from Amol Kale, the incumbent vice-president and a close aide of deputy Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) election buzz is at its peak.

With just eight days to go for the October 20 elections, a chunk of voters, especially schools, colleges and public sector companies affiliated to the MCA, received a special phone call on Tuesday from Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s office for a ‘get-together’ at Sahyadri bungalow today evening.

It is not an unusual occurrence, said a veteran MCA voter. “This happens before every MCA election. The votes of the state government are very crucial,” the voter said. It is understood around 125 to 130 voters are expected to be present for the meeting today.  

There are twists and turns galore in the build-up to the elections. A day after Sharad Pawar backed Ashish Shelar’s candidature for the MCA president’s post, on Tuesday it emerged that the BJP Mumbai head is now headed to the BCCI as earlier reported by this newspaper.

Shelar filed his nomination for the BCCI treasurer’s post. The Indian cricket board is set to go to the polls on October 18. Like last time, there may be no elections and all candidates are likely to come in unopposed.

However, the same can’t be said about the MCA, which houses the BCCI headquarters at D Road, Churchgate. With Shelar heading to the BCCI, the race is wide open for the MCA president’s post.

Presidential candidate Sandeep Patil, the former India batsman, is likely to face competition from Amol Kale, the incumbent vice-president and a close aide of deputy Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. Kale has also filed his nomination for the vice-president’s post. Sanjay Naik, the incumbent secretary, has also filed his nomination for the MCA president’s post along with the secretary, joint secretary and treasurer’s posts.  

Kale and Naik had raised conflict of interest issues in Patil’s nomination during the scrutiny of nominations on Tuesday. The 1983 World Cupper also filed his reply to the election officer. 

Patil’s nomination was accepted by the election officer.

Also Read: No going back for Sandeep Patil in MCA elections

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