Baroda Cricket Association polls: President Pranav Amin, secretary Ajit Lele get Gujarat high court notice over eligibility

VADODARA: Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) president Pranav Amin and secretary Ajit Lele have received a notice from the Gujarat high court over their eligibility to contest the association polls.
A BCA member had approached the court some days ago and pleaded that Amin and Lele had completed their nine-year term in the management and hence they can’t contest the BCA elections as per the Lodha Committee’s recommendations accepted by the Supreme Court.
“Some people are creating a nuisance instead of supporting the good work done by the association. I have joined hands with Samarjitsinh Gaekwad and we will be working together now but some people don’t like it due to their vested interests,” Amin told TOI. Amin and Gaekwad’s groups will be contesting the upcoming BCA polls together.
“Instead of resorting to such legal tactics, they can contest the polls and fight against us,” Amin said. The high court through the notice has sought reply from Amin and Lele over their eligibility issue. The BCA member has contended that Amin and Lele were part of the apex council (previously the managing committee) for more than nine years and hence they are now disqualified from contesting for any post.
“The Lodha Committee clearly said that the nine-year maximum rule was only for office-bearers. And, the apex committee doesn’t come under the office-bearer category. So, I am eligible to contest the polls,” Amin said. Lele too said that he is eligible for contesting the election and he as well as Amin will soon be replying to the court notice.
While the high court has set the next date for the case on March 2, BCA has scheduled its annual general meeting and elections on February 26. “The polls, if required, will be held as per the schedule,” Amin said.
Former BCCI and BCA secretary, Sanjay Patel, whose supporter has approached the court against Amin and Lele, said, “The maximum nine-year rule was flouted. There is no question of withdrawing the case now. The court will decide on the matter and we will abide by it.
Patel belonged to the Royal Group headed by Gaekwad but he was removed from the BCA’s managing committee in 2014 and a year later his membership too was cancelled over allegations of financial regularities. Patel, however, had termed the move as illegal. He tried to get reinstated in the BCA some years ago.