Former BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya on Tuesday expressed dismay over the role played by the Supreme court-appointed Observer T S Krishnamurthy during the BCCI elections in which Sharad Pawar led group came out victorious.  | Also Read | | |
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Talking to reporters here after the elections, Dalmiya said, "it was not a debacle for us. One of our genuine voters was asked to sit out while a complete stranger who had nothing to do with cricket was allowed to vote," Dalmiya said. "The Observer was there to see elections are held properly. But surprisingly, he started giving affiliations," he said.
He also hinted that his group would place their point of view in the Supreme Court when the case would come up for hearing on December 12.
Dalmiya said at best the verdict could have been 16-15 in favour of Pawar.
On whether there was any political pressure in favour of the Pawar group, he said, "I do not want to go into this. But, if a politician contests for a post in a sports body, it is always bound to make some difference. If you want to involve politicians in cricket affairs, then it's better to nationalise BCCI.
However, Dalmiya said he accepted the verdict and extended support for the newly-elected BCCI president. "I accept the verdict. My good wishes are with their team and if they require my support or cooperation in running the affairs of the BCCI, I will always be there," he said.
The Dalmiya-backed outgoing BCCI chief Ranbir Singh Mahendra, who lost to Pawar, also criticised the decision of the Observer in depriving Himachal Pradesh of its vote.
"Everything was working against me. First, I was deprived of my vote. Then Himachal Pradesh was debarred," he said.
On whether some of his supporters went against him, Mahendra said, "Everybody played his part." He, however, said that he was a happy man at the end of his tenure as the Indian team was playing well during his regime.
"The Indian team is playing well and I am confident the team will continue to perform this way till the 2007 World Cup," he said.
