HCA polls: Votes polled, ballots with police

Hyderabad: Elections to the Hyderabad Cricket Associations were held without incident amid an acrimonious undercurrent on Tuesday but a court battle ensues to ascertain their legality starting Wednesday.

Polls to the six elected posts on the Apex Council were conducted at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium by Returning Officer K. Rajeev Reddy, who was appointed by the Ranga Reddy Court which had ordered elections.

The same was challenged by the HCA ruling group in the High Court which refused to stay the polls but directed that the results be put on hold until it disposes of the petition.

The sealed ballot boxes now lie in the custody of Uppal Police, under whose jurisdiction the RGICS falls. It was a straight fight between former Member of Parliament and current advisor to the state government G. Vivekanand and former cricketer Vidyuth Jaisimha for the president’s post while T. Sheshnarayan was the lone candidate for the secretary’s post.

K. Anil Kumar and Imran Mahmood slugged it out be vice-president while Ajmal Asad and Vanka Prathap, a court-directed late inclusion on the ballot after being initially disqualified by the RO,  were in the fray for the joint secretary’s post. E. Venkatram Reddy had retired from the contest.

The treasurer’s chair saw a three-way fight among Mahendra, P. Anuradha and Srinivas Pattapu while eight were in the fray for the Councillor’s position.
Meanwhile, former cricketers did not get to vote on various grounds.

Vivek was confident after 207 of the 216 registered voters cast their votes. “It was good to see so many voters turn out and complete the process,” he told reporters.

“I am happy that the elections have been held under the supervision of a court-appointed Advocate Commissioner. But a clear picture will emerge tomorrow. We will respect the court’s verdict,” he added.

Vivek also sought clarification on talk that he was not qualified to contest the polls according to Supreme Court order as he held the rank of a Cabinet minister.

“I have not been sworn in by the Governor, which is the norm for those in Cabinet rank positions, neither am I an invitee at any of the cabinet meetings. Also, I am not taking any salary (to be called a government servant, who too are barred from contesting elections),” he said.

Former HCA president Arshad Ayub reiterated the charges that the election was “illegal and manipulated.” “We are confident that the whole process, which is in gross violation of the Justice Lodha panel recommendations, would be declared null and void on January 19,” he said.