KSCA elections in limbo as confusion over date continues amid poll row in Karnataka cricket body
The KSCA elections are likely to be postponed for a second time amid a row in the state cricket body over the eligibility criteria of certain candidates.
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) elections were postponed for a second time on Monday, November 17, amid a polling row within the cricketing body. The election for the KSCA managing committee was scheduled for November 30 after being postponed from the original date of September 30.
However, the confusion over the actual date of the election has intensified after a KSCA member reached court over the election rules and the eligibility criteria of certain candidates. AV Shashidara, a member of the KSCA, filed a civil suit in the trial court, challenging the managing committee's interpretation of the cricketing body's nine-year term rule.
Shashidara obtained an interim order from the trial court, following which electoral officer B Basavaraaju decided to postpone the elections for a second time. The electoral officer wrote to KSCA on Monday, November 17, stating that the elections will be postponed to December 30 in view of the court's order.
Basavaraaju said the decision to delay the polls till December 30 has been taken to ensure all members get enough time to have their doubts cleared regarding eligibility criteria of certain candidates and other rules. However, KSCA CEO Shubhendu Ghosh has urged the electoral officer to conduct the polls on the scheduled date of November 30.
Venkatesh Prasad 'shocked' after postponement of KSCA elections
Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad, who is running for the KSCA president's post, expressed his shock after the elections were postponed for a second time on Monday. Prasad said the elections have already been delayed by two months as he criticised the decision to defer polls for a second time.
"As it is, there has been a delay of more than two months. They then gave a decision saying that it’s going to happen on 30th of November. But now, even that is deferred and that is shocking to hear,” said the former India pacer.
Prasad, who is being backed by his team - Game Changers in the KSCA elections, reiterated that cricket should be the state cricketing body's priority while lamenting the ongoing politics in the association. He also insisted that his priority remains bringing international cricket back to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Shant Kumar, who is Prasad's challenger for the president's post, backed by Team Brijesh Patel, also maintained that he wants the elections to be conducted on November 30 as per the original schedule.