Despite the legal hurdle, Dalmiya nominated patron

Despite the legal hurdles placed before him, BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya was named the patron-in-chief of the Indian board at the specia...

Despite the legal hurdles placed before him, BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya was named the patron-in-chief of the Indian board at the special General Body Meeting here today. The day started with a local lawyer handing out the Bhopal Court’s objection to Dalmiya’s nomination to the BCCI secretary SK Nair but ended with the BCCI president having his way.

The only change in script which the Bhopal court’s notice forced was a the re-framing of the resolution. As the BCCI vice-president Kamal Morarkar said after the meeting, ‘‘The resolution was altered whereby Dalmiya would be the patron-in-chief, after stepping down from office. He will also represent the Board in the matters of the ICC and the powers that he would enjoy would be decided at the AGM in Kolkata on September 29.’’

He later clarified at the press meet their would be no dual power centre and stated that: ‘‘The president has his own powers. The patron-in-chief will not encroach into president’s powers.’’

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Referring to the notice issued by a local court in Bhopal to the BCCI Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association and Bhopal Division Cricket Association, Morarka said: ‘‘The court has asked us not to pass any resolution against the rules of the BCCI. They have not given a stay. We have gone through the order and from within the framework of the constitution.’’

In other words, Dalmiya would play the role of what Raj Singh Dungarpur did when AC Muthiah was the BCCI president. Raj Singh on several occasions represented the Board at the ICC, when Muthiah could could not attend a particular meeting.