KSCA Elections: Team Wadiyar-Patel sweep polls

Bengaluru: An hour into counting at the KSCA elections, a visibly upset presidential candidate Sadanand Maiya made a quick exit from the premises and minutes later fireworks erupted outside the stadium. Although the counting process was still on, it was symbolic of the outcome of the bitterly fought elections.

A while later A.V Jayaprakash, contesting for the post of secretary against Brijesh Patel, walked out a lone man, signalling the defeat of the cricketers-backed team.

What was expected to be a keenly-contested election, turned out to be a lop-sided affair as Team WadiyarBrijesh swept all the 24 posts.

While the scales were heavily titled in favour of Wadiyar-Brijesh group, it is the margin of defeat of the opposition, which clearly showed that they failed to impress the voters.

The lack of support to the defeated faction came as a rude jolt to the contestants, especially since they had the backing of many of the former international cricketers including Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Rahul Dravid and GR Viswanath.

With 1351 votes polled, president-elect Srikantadatta Wadiyar garnered 923 against his opponent Maiya's 413. Likewise, Patel's 977 votes was too good for Jayaprakash's 331.

The victory brings back the 2007 combination of Wadiyar and Patel to power.

While Wadiyar is a oneterm president, Patel had held the post from 1998-2010.

City Cricketers, who contested in the institutional category, polled the maximum votes of 980.

An elated Wadiyar said, “At the outset, I would like to thank all the members of the KSCA for having supported Wadiyar and Brjiesh group. The entire group of all 24 candidates has won this election by convincing margins. I would also like to say that Brijesh and I have worked on this arrangement for the last three years.

“All the detailed nitty-gritties of trying to iron out whatever differences that may have existed went on in the last three years. The Wadiyar-Brijesh combination is an unbeatable combination in the KSCA. We shall work towards a very friendly KSCA which will be member-friendly and spectator-friendly. This is what we intend to work.“

While the victorious group began their wild celebrations much before the results were officially announced, outgoing president Kumble and secretary Srinath walked in with the returning officer KS Naveen to pronounce the results and were jeered by the Team WadiyarBrijesh group.

Patel on his part said, “Our first target is to see that the Ranji Trophy team does well and that junior cricket is played and revived. Many of the tournaments which were not conducted in the last three years, is what we want to take care of. Also the members will be taken care of and respected.” Kumble, who in the runup to the elections had said he did not trust Patel, was gracious as the team backed by him was wiped out.

Before walking up to the victors and congratulating them, he said, “I congratulate the new managing committee and wish them the very best for the next three years.” While the outing going team may not have been popular with the vote bank, the new regime will have big shoes to fill considering the work done by Kumble and Srinath for the development of cricket at all levels in the state.

RESULTS TOTAL VOTES POLLED: 1351 PRESIDENT: Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar 923 Secretary: Brijesh Patel 977 Treasurer: Dayananda Pai 932 VICE-PRESIDENTS: Sudhakar Rao R. 915 Ashok Anand P.R 861 Sanjay Desai. ­ 790 MANAGING COMMITTEE: Life members: Raghuram Bhat A: 953; Ganesha D: 899; Srinivasa Murthy NS: 881; Mallikarjuna Swamy HM: 816; Manjunath VM: 809; Lachman K. Mahtani 791.

Institutional members (Bangalore Zone): City Cricketers: 980; Jayanagar Colts: 894; The Bangalore Cricketers: 882; Swastik Union Cricket Club: 872; Vijaya Cricket Club, Malur: 860: Vultures Cricket Club: 782.

Other zones: Mysore Zone: RBN Cricket Club ­ 811; Shimoga Zone: Durgigudi Cricket Association: 908; Tumkur Zone: Tumkur Occassionals: 933; Mangalore Zone: Mangalore Sports Club: 770; Raichur Zone: City XI Cricket Club ­ 926; Dharward Zone: BDK Sports Foundation: Unopposed.