Kolkata West Bengal Sports Minister Subhas Chakraborty has openly backed Cricket Association of Bengal president Jagmohan Dalmiya and said efforts were going on to work out a compromise between the two rival factions ahead of the July 30 CAB elections.
Claiming that injustice was being done to Dalmiya by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Chakraborty said, "I have protested against this discrimination."
BCCI has filed an FIR against Dalmiya for alleged misappropriation of funds relating to the 1996 World Cup,
"First they said that the amount misappropriated was Rs 21 lakh. Then it went up to Rs 5.67 crore and subsequently to Rs 21 crore. Now they say it is Rs 40 crore. I won't be surprised if a few days later the sum shoots up to Rs 100 crore," Chakraborty said.
"Their inconsistent stand proves they are meting out injustice to Dalmiya. How can a responsible organisation act like this?" the minister asked.
Chakraborty's support to Dalmiya is significant in view of Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee's public statement that he was in favour of Dalmiya opting out of the CAB presidential contest.
Chakraborty also made an oblique criticism of Bhattacharjee's stand on the issue, saying, "I have been the sports minister for 24 years. But I have never interfered in the affairs of any sports body."
The anti-Dalmiya faction has announced Kolkata Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee as its presidential candidate with the apparent backing of Bhattacharjee.
Chakaraborty said he had written a protest letter to BCCI president Sharad Pawar against the decision to extend tenure of the board's office-bearers by one year to two years from September when its annual elections are held.
A BCCI Special General Meeting last month also included the provision that the office-bearers could be re-elected for an additional year.
"This is undemocratic. Just because they have the majority they can't do it. This is unethical," Chakraborty said.
The minister revealed that he was trying for a 'respectable compromise' acceptable to both the factions with regard to the CAB elections.
"For an amicable settlement, both sides need to be flexible in their stand," he said.
Chakraborty had earlier met Dalmiya to convey the Chief Minister's request that he should stay away from the elections.
Dalmiya later sent a missive to Chakraborty countering the argument that Eden Gardens would be deprived of international matches and Bengal cricket would suffer if he continued as CAB chief.
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