Dalmiya defies establishment, readies for battle royale

Kolkata, July 31 (UNI) Blinking is not what Jagmohan Dalmiya had learnt to do since his cricketing days and last night the state government went under the blinkers as the wily cricket administrator retained his crown for the 15th straight year.

In a huge embarrassment to West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, incumbent Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) President Jagmohan Dalmiya defeated city's Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee by five votes to retain his crown.

Ever since his cricketing days, a friend confided, he never blinked when he stood behind the stumps as a wicket keeper. Maybe the habit he picked up there helped him in good stead as he didn't ever bat an eyelid on way to defeating his adversary and Chief Minister's protege Prasun Mukherjee.

In one of the toughest and acrimonious CAB elections ever fought, Dalmiya polled 61 votes to Mukherjee's 56.

With this result Dalmiya not only snubbed the powers-that-be in the state to stunning silence, but also negated Sourav Ganguly's influence, whose e-mail had been used as a weapon by the opposition camp.

Call Dalmiya anything -- manipulative, arrogant and stiff-upper-lipped -- but he has an undying tenacity that proved once again when he attended a press meet after seeing-off the Election Observer S K Phouzdar, and said, ''I dont believe in witch hunting. But I will fight the injustice done to me. I don't want to brag. No two wrongs make a right. The fact is I badly needed a platform to fight the BCCI and that is exactly what I have got.'' Asked how he planned to get around BCCI, he said, ''Leave it to my lawyers.'' On whether he would go to the BCCI disciplinary committee, the Marwari said, ''I am looking into it. I don't yet know how will I tackle things. But I know I will do it alright, for truth must prevail.'' While acknowledging congratulatory wishes from all and sundry, he did not forget to mention that he wanted to have the blessings of the state government for him to continue successfully and that the superstructure will shine on the solid foundations of CAB that he had laid out.

Earlier, talking to the press jointly with Mukherjee after the results were declared, Mr Dalmiya said, ''It's a mixed feeling.

While I feel happy to win the elections, I am also sad that I had to fight against the Chief Minister's wishes.'' ''But I am very happy that this election was fought in a very friendly manner and in the spirit of the game and hope that Mr Mukherjee and myself will continue to work together for the betterment of Bengal's cricket. In fact, I asked him to come to CAB from the next week only.'' Sources close to Mr Dalmiya told UNI that, ''It was always expected to be a close contest as Mr B N Dutta played a neutral role. Had he favoured any one party, that side would have got a cake-walk.'' ''They also made a mistake by being overconfident about the district and the University votes. The voters from the districts are too old a bird to eat the chaff. The presence of two SPs also did not make any difference,'' the sources said.

The sources further said, ''Though Mr Prasun Mukherjee was a strong candidate, his panel was weak and the voters saw through it.'' Meanwhile, Mr Prasun Mukherjee said, ''Mr Dalmiya has won this election fare and square. I would have been happy to win it but I have no complaint as elections were fought in the most fare and free manner under the court appointed Observer.'' ''Maybe I will come back next year with a better result but Mr Dalmiya wants me back from next week only,''he said.

However, when asked about the numbers, Dalmiya said numbers didn't matter in such a close contest.

Dalmiya won the elections by five votes, having polled 61 to 56.

Dalmiya further informed that counting was on for the Vice-President's post.

While the two Joint Secretaries on Dalmiya's panel, Saradindu Pal and Amitava Banerjee, polled 71 and 60 votes respectively, opposition candidate Samar Pal got 58 and Raja Venkat got a mere 39 votes.

Dalmiya's candidate for Treasurer Shiv Kumar Kalyani got 66 votes, while opposition's Tushar Sarkar got 50 votes.

The four Vice-Presidents in Dalmiya's panel, Russi Jeejeebhoy (68 votes), Nimai Dutta(81 votes), Ashit Chatterjee (68 votes) and Suhash Chandra Bose(70 votes) swept the polls for him for a thumping win.

Dalmiya said at the end of the election, ''Cricket won today'' or did it only time will tell, but for now its surely a new battle between the warlord and the kingpins of BCCI.

UNI BA/SRC PM VP1122