Voices of dissent mar HCA elections

No one seems to bother about the recommendations of Justice Lodha panel, says former MP V. Hanumanth Rao

Fingers crossed: Former MP G. Vivekanand, who contested for HCA President’s post, outside the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in the city on Tuesday.

Dissenting voices were heard outside the polling centre at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium (Uppal), venue of the Hyderabad Cricket Association elections on Tuesday, than inside.

One of the first to cast his vote was former MP V. Hanumanth Rao and he questioned: “What sort of an election is this? No one seems to bother about the recommendations of the Justice Lodha panel,” he left fuming.

Former HCA president Arshad Ayub insisted that the elections were illegal, but they had to fight for a cause and could not afford to boycott it. “I must tell you that this is a fraud committed against the Supreme Court judgement regarding the conduct of elections,” he said. Former HCA secretary D.S. Chalapathi too found fault with the election process. For his part, a beaming G. Vivekanand, who contested for the president post against Vidyuth Jaisimha, reminded that the entire process was held under the supervision of a Returning Officer appointed by the Ranga Reddy Court and not by his group.

“The elections today is a tribute to the democratic manner in which they are held. There were some hard decisions taken by the RO to clear the mess which has been there for years. This will naturally upset some of them who would have been the beneficiaries,” pointed out Dr. Vivek in the company of T. Seshnarayan, the only candidate for Secretary’s post and K. Anil Kumar (vice-presidential candidate). “Can Mr. Arshad, who was the president till recently, explain why he failed to give voter ID cards to former international cricketers? Because then it did not suit him,” Dr. Vivek countered to a query.

“I don’t hold any Cabinet-rank post as I am not sworn-in by the Governor which should be the case otherwise. Neither am I an invitee to the Cabinet meetings,” Dr. Vivek said. “As regards to the salary, I leave it to the wisdom of the critics,” he said with a big smile. Former BCCI president N. Shivlal Yadav, whose club RRDCA was given the voter ID card on Tuesday, and former India captain Mohd Azharuddin, whose nomination for President’s post was rejected, were not there.

Flaws in election process

Interestingly, Sports Authority of Telangana State Chairman A. Venkateshwara Reddy too pointed out flaws in the election process saying that an “ineligible candidate was given the voting right for Mahabubnagar District Cricket Association. But I sincerely hope whoever takes charge will take steps to see players from districts also play in Ranji Trophy and not just Hyderabadis,” he remarked.