Dalmiya dummy a possibility, Snehashis not to fight polls

Kolkata, July 20 (UNI) There seems to be no end to the twists and turns in the CAB election with Snehashis Ganguly deciding against fighting the poll and claims that former BCCI Joint Secretary Gautam Dasgupta will be the Presidential candidate from the Jagmohan Dalmiya camp.

Speculation is rife that Mr Dalmiya, who doesn't have the support of the Chief Minister, might field a protege and Mr Dasgupta fits the bill for his understanding of BCCI politics and the crucial role in the Dalmiya regime.

Though there is no confirmation from either Mr Dalmiya's office or by Mr Dasgupta, the popular theory doing the rounds is that Mr Dalmiya, to evade the direct opposition from the state government and the current BCCI regime, might field his own person and call the shots from behind.

Meanwhile, Snehashis Ganguly, the elder sibling of Sourav, has decided not to fight the polls for the Joint Secretary's post, though he has not switched his allegiance to the anti-Dalmiya camp.

Sources close to Ganguly family reportedly said, ''He is too busy with the Videocon academy and Sourav's (the restaurant named after his brother) and feels he won't be able to do justice to the CAB job.'' This will be a shock for City police commissioner Prasun Mukherjee who challenged Dalmiya for his throne. He had declared that the Gangulys were with the dissidents, led by him and Aryans Club assistant secretary Samar Pal, but have had little to show for that on paper.

Even the promised letter from Sourav Ganguly supporting the dissident is yet in the offing. The ruling faction is seeing this as a victory of sorts. But they are keeping their cards close to the chest and have not let go a single clue on their moves on the election.

Meanwhile, a division bench of Calcutta High Court today refused to admit the application by the anti-Dalmiya faction seeking direction to a lower court for expeditious hearing of its suit for appointment of an independent observer for the forthcoming CAB elections.

The hearing is due for tomorrow.

UNI BA SP AY VV1503