Dalmiya yet to decide on future course of action

Kolkata, June 19 (UNI) After Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee asked Jagmohan Dalmiya not to contest the Cricket Association of Bengal election, the CAB President said he has not decided anything regarding the poll.

A day after city Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee announced his candidature for the post of CAB President, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today asked Mr Dalmiya not to contest the election, making it clear that the state Government wanted an end to his 20-year reign as chief of the state body.

''Mr Dalmiya should not contest the CAB election. I have asked Sports Minister Subhash Chakraborty to convey this to Mr Dalmiya,'' the Chief Minister told reporters at the Writers Building.

Mr Bhattacharjee also felt that former India captain Sourav Ganguly should take more responsibility in the matter of Bengal cricket.

Reacting to Chief Minister's commnent, Mr Dalmiya, talking to UNI, said, ''It is still six weeks before the CAB elections. It is too premature to make any comments.

''I will talk to my colleagues in the CAB to get a general feedback and then react on this matter or take any final decision,'' he said.

This CAB election promises to be a hard-fought affair as Mr Dalmiya is cornered like never before after being sidelined from the BCCI some seven months back.

This election, if it all gets underway, will be one of the most acrimonious ones following the Left Front government's open support for challenger Prasun Mukherjee.

UNI BA/KDG TJP AY RK1932