by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
special report
Amit Shah ensured Ganguly election as BCCI Chief
Vetoed his son Jay Shah's name for coveted post
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, Oct. 14
Contrary to popular perception that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was propping up his son Jay Shah for the coveted (BCCI) post, it transpires that he strongly pitched for a professional.
At a closed door meeting held at his residence on Saturday night when top guns of cricket associations from across the country called on Amit Shah, he flatly refused to allow his son to be appointed as BCCI chief. N Sriniwasan of India Cement fame who is a key player in Tamil Nadu, Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur and host of other cricket association presidents attended it.
These top notches wanted to seek the indulgence of Amit Shah so that a consensus can be arrived at for the post of new president. The names of Sourav Ganguly, Brijesh Patel, Rajat Sharma, president of the DDCA, Jay Shah from the GCA etc. were doing the rounds for the coveted post. The BCCI polls are taking place after a long time and the Committee of Administrators (COA) will now seize to exist on October 23 when Saurav takes over.
Jay Sha who represents the GCA at the AGM in Mumbai, is the hot favourite. But Amit Shah vetoed his son's name saying that a professional be inducted for the post. Gone are the days when Maharashtra leader Sharad Pawar used to call the shots. It may also be mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi too has been a former head of the GCA.
There are clear signals that the BJP leadership decided to throw its weight behind Saurav Ganguly for long term political interests as well. Anurag Thakur is reported to have played a key role in convincing Ganguly that after his term as BCCI chief, to campaign during the West Bengal Assembly polls in 2021. Saurav Ganguly will have a tenure of one year only under the new rules under which an office bearer can have a running administrative role for nine year and thereafter will have a cooling off period of three years.
Under the formula, Brajesh Patel may become BCCI chief after Ganguly demits office in September 2020. But for now, Ganguly's unanimous election has the clear stamp of Amit Shah.
Ends
