MCA election: Vengsarkar looks to buck the trend

It will be tough task for Vengsarkar to bring a change in the prevailing trend in MCA polls.

During his long career as a cricketer and later his tenure as the selection committee chief,Dilip Vengsarkar had never been as nervous as he has been for the last few weeks. After all the former India batsman knows he is taking guard on a difficult wicket,having thrown his hat in the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) presidential election ring.

In the elections that are scheduled to be held on Friday,Vengsarkar is not only up against Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh,but recent history as well: only politicians have been elected MCA presidents since 1992,with Manohar Joshi succeeded by Sharad Pawar in 2001 after the latter defeated Ajit Wadekar.

But Vengsarkar is giving it his all in the fight. In the last one month,he has held countless meetings and travelled deep into the suburbs for canvassing. Im confident that these people (voters) want change,and they have promised me their support, said Vengsarkar.

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Among 329 voters representing 211 maidan clubs,it is understood that 81 offices and 37 school/colleges votes will be crucial. The last cricketer to head the MCA was former India stumper and ex-Mumbai captain Madhav Mantri,in 1991-92 his second tenure after 1987-88. With Pawar,who became ineligible to contest following a change of his permanent residence status from Mumbai to Baramati,backing Deshmukh for the top job,it certainly appears to be an uphill task for Vengsarkar.

Meanwhile,BCCI chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty will be contesting for one of the two vice-presidents posts. Shetty will be up against former Mumbai cricketers Milind Rege and Shripad Halbe,BJP corporator Ashish Shelar and DY Patil Stadium owner Vijay Patil.

Former India opener and incumbent joint secretary Lalchand Rajput,who has formed his own panel,is facing stiff challenge from Nitin Dalal and Dr P V Shetty,both members of the Pawar panel. Pravin Barve,Ravi Mandrekar and Ravi Savant are contesting for the post of treasurer.

There are also 11 managing committee posts,running for which are,among others,former Indian cricketers Karsan Ghavri,Balwinder Sandhu and Chandrakant Pandit,and the lone woman candidate,Hema Phadke.