(UDHAYAM, CHENNAI) – In a formal assembly of units of an elected body, those attending are usually the ones with voting rights. Meetings of BCCI have almost always been like that. Matters may or may not go to votes, but those present make sure that they always have the right to choose.
Following the impasse on several fronts in the shadow boxing between BCCI and the committee of administrators (CoA), board meetings are witnessing the unfamiliar sight of members turning up with a question mark over their voting status.
The April 9 adjourned special general meeting saw new affiliates from the Northeast states, who will again be in attendance when the meeting is reconvened on April 18. However, older members of BCCI claim these new additions can only be present, without the right to vote.
The CoA has ruled in accordance with the Lodha commission recommendation that states will have one vote according to geographical boundaries.
This has seen the inclusion of Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Telangana. Maharashtra, Mumbai, Vidarbha and Gujarat, Saurashtra, Baroda have been asked to take yearly turns to elect.
However, with a number of members questioning in court the CoA’s authority to change the BCCI constitution and the matter being listed for hearing in July, those who form the board are sticking to old rules and regulations. For them, all six from Maharashtra and Gujarat are voters. The eight new full members are not. CCI and NCC, ousted as full members by CoA, also stay in the fold.
While acting BCCI president CK Khanna refused to elaborate on this, except for saying that voting wouldn’t be necessary in the next meeting, other members were more forthright.
“The constitution uploaded (subsequently removed) on the BCCI website by the CoA is not approved by the court. Until that happens, we follow the old constitution, with 31 voters. The new ones are free to attend, but can’t vote, at least in the present arrangement,” a senior BCCI functionary told Express.
Irrespective of their position vis-a-vis implementing the court orders on Lodha recommendations, state units are unanimous in saying that changes in BCCI consitution made by CoA are not to be followed, unless the court says so.
“It’s still to be accepted in court. Until then, it’s status quo as far as voting rights are concerned. We can vote. I don’t think units granted full member status recently can do that,” said an official of Vidarbha, the only association which has had changes in constitution approved by CoA, for following court orders.
