Former BCCI president N Srinivasan will maintain his stronghold over Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) with his daughter Rupa Gurunath all set to become the first woman president of a BCCI-affiliated unit during its upcoming AGM on 26 September.
The last date for filing nomination is 24 September. A decision to this effect was taken during TNCA's executive committee meeting held on Sunday, sources said.
The other candidates in the fray for various posts: R S Ramaswamy: Vice-President, K A Shankar: Joint Secretary, J Parthasarathy: Treasurer, N Venkataraman: Assistant Treasurer.
With Rupa taking over the reins, TNCA will remain under control of the Srinivasan family, as it has been the case for the better part of the last two decades.
It must be mentioned that Rupa's husband Guruanth Meiyappan, the tainted former Team Principal of the Chennai Super Kings has been banned for life by the BCCI, for being involved in betting during the 2013 IPL which was rocked by spot-fixing scandal. Meiyappan was in fact arrested by the Mumbai Police in midst of IPL.
On Saturday, the Shah family of Rajkot maintained their control over Saurashtra Cricket Association with former BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah's son Jaydev took over as the president. Jaydev retired after 16 years of first-class cricket, the better part of which he captained India players like Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja and Jaydev Unadkat.
Another state unit where family rule will continue is Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association where another former BCCI president Anurag Thakur’s younger brother Arun will take charge from 27 September.
The need to complete the TNCA elections before 28 September deadline as per the Supreme Court directive forced the association to quicken proceedings.
The Supreme Court on Friday allowed the TNCA to hold elections to elect office-bearers but said the results will be subject to its decision.
A bench comprising Justices SA Bobde and L Nageswara Rao said the state cricket associations can go ahead with the elections but will not declare the results. It will be subject to the order of this court and legal remedies will be available to parties.
The Committee of Administrators had set 22 October as the date for the BCCI AGM and elections and set 28 September as the deadline for the state units to conduct their elections.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)