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Cuttack: Uncertainty looms large over the conduct of Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) elections as the process for appointment of electoral officers is yet to begin. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had fixed July deadline for completing the necessary formalities for appointment of electoral officers.
Though the elections in several State associations are expected to be by September 14 as per the directions of Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA), the entire election process is likely to get delayed in OCA.
Sources said that OCA election has run into a rough weather owing to ongoing dispute between two groups within the association.
It is pertinent to mention here that there was a major controversy soon after BCCI asked OCA to frame fresh constitution by dropping several clubs, schools and colleges which have voting rights. The clubs and other members, who were dropped, had subsequently moved Supreme Court and BCCI's CoA.
However, it sparked a fresh controversy after KIIT and Paradip Port Trust were included in the list. Blaming OCA, former OCA joint-secretary, Sanjiv Dutta targeted former secretary Ashirbad Behera for the fiasco.
"As the constitution has not been approved yet, there is no question of the election till the constitution is registered and sent to BCCI by IGR. Everybody knows that Ashirbad Behera is behind the entire operations in OCA," alleged Dutta.
Though former OCA secretary, Ashirbad Behera could not be contacted over such allegations, OCA working president Dhiren Pallai informed that OCA is keen to hold the elections.
Though OCA had approached three former election officers of the State, they turned down the proposal of assuming charge as electoral officer for the ensuing election to the cricketing body.
"We are in contact with an election officer from Bihar. Once the officer agrees, the election process will start. I do not know who the opponents are and where is the question of illegal money when we do not receive any funds," said Pallai.
