Minister versus Police officr for JSCA president

Jamshedpur, May 7 (UNI) Jharkhand Home and Sports minister Sudesh Mahto today filed nomination with much fanfare at Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) office for the post of president of JSCA's biennial polls, slated to be held on March 14 in Bokaro.

Mr Mahto, who was earlier denied to contest the elections, however, jumped into the fray on the concluding day of filing of nomination paper. He came to JSCA office at the premises of Keenan stadium along with his team which included chief of Tata Football Academy (TFA) and sports department of Tata Steel Satish Pillai and former test cricketer Ramesh Saxena.

Mr Pillai filed his nomination for the post of vice-president, while Mr Saxena opted for the post of honorary secretary.

With the filing of nomination by Mr Mahto for the top slot of the state cricket body, a keen contest would be witnessed as the incumbent president Amitabha Choudhary, an Inspector General, had already filed his nomination with his team on April 30.

The elections would be a show of strength between a high profile minister and a police officer. While the ruling faction basked in the strength of district members, the opposition camp bouyed by the presence of the minister, who is reportedly backed by a large number of JSCA members and a leading corporate house.

After filing his nomination, Mr Mahto reiterated his commitment to promoting the game in Jharkhand. He said the decision of contesting the elections was taken as majority of the JSCA members wanted to see him at the helm of the state cricket body.

Meanwhile, electoral officer Amarendra Kumar Singh told media persons that 30 candidates filed nominations for the posts of one president, two vice-presidents, one honorary secretary and one treasurer. Mr Singh added that altogether 955 voters would exercise their franchise.

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