Why Didi's dadagiri will get Ganguly in trouble

The sudden demise of Jagmohan Dalmiya on September 20, left the seat of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president vacant and in a bizarre move - unheard of previously in the history of Indian cricket - West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee decided that Sourav Ganguly is the rightful heir to the throne and that he shall serve as chief of the CAB - a move that could have well been avoided.

Even though nobody is willing to say anything on record, the general feeling within the CAB is that sporting decisions should be left to the association and its members. The state head's intervention was uncalled for.

"It is strange that democracy has suddenly been thrown out of the window and Ganguly shall act as the new president. While nobody is doubting his credentials, but what about the years of toil that other administrators have had to go through? Just because he is a name to reckon with, doesn't mean that he should be made the chief.

"He has just started off as an administrator - Ganguly was the joint secretary till September 24 - and he should have at least completed his term. It would have been fair if elections were held," a senior CAB official told Mail Today.

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Mamata on her part made it clear that she was just helping out CAB officials and had nothing to do in the whole selection process. But insiders believe otherwise.

Interestingly, it is just not the CAB that has infuriated administrators. Even in the BCCI, there aren't too many who have taken nicely to the move. It is no secret that former BCCI chief N Srinivasan isn't too fond of Ganguly and in the current scenario where there is a tussle over who will become the next BCCI president, such a scenario could well have been avoided.

Also read: Has Indian cricket hired Ganguly to make him puppet or master?

In fact, Ganguly will be the face of CAB in all board meetings henceforth and that isn't something that has been welcomed by many. Even during the annual general meeting in March, Dalmiya - soon after being nominated president - had proposed that Ganguly be made head of the cricket committee of the BCCI. But the move was strongly opposed as the Srinivasan camp wasn't too keen on replacing Anil Kumble.

Now with the Srinivasan camp and the Sharad Pawar camp coming together to ensure that either Pawar himself or one of his nominees become the next BCCI chief, things could take an ugly turn as Ganguly's vote will definitely matter in the current circumstance. After all, he will have the vote of CAB and the National Cricket Club.

In fact, it isn't just Ganguly who benefited from the chief minister's decision. The biggest benefactor was Dalmiya's son Avishek Dalmiya. Despite having no experience in administrative work, he was automatically elevated to the post of joint secretary of the CAB on Thursday evening and knowing his closeness to Ganguly, it won't be surprising that the two will tag team to ouster those against them in the CAB.

While many are rejoicing Didi's (as Mamata is fondly called) decision to promote Dada's (as Ganguly is fondly known) promotion, the move has definitely ruffled feathers - both in the CAB and the BCCI - and knowing the ever changing colours of board politics, the coming days will be interesting to say the least.