Mumbai: Ahead of Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) elections scheduled for Thursday (October 20), former BCCI president Sharad Pawar shared space with political rivals Devendra Fadanvis of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde on Wednesday and said that though they all differ politically, they have same thoughts when it comes to sports.
The panel of Sharad Pawar and Ashish Shelar had a meeting with Chief Minister Shinde and Deputy CM Fadanvis where they put forth demands for the growth and development of MCA. Sharad Pawar said during the meeting,
“Everyone wants to know what is happening in tomorrow`s MCA election. We have different political mindsets but we have the same thoughts about sports. When I was the BCCI president, Narendra Modi used to come for meetings when he was the president of the Gujarat Cricket Association, and current Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and Rajeev Shukla (current BCCI vice president) used to come from Himachal. They came because we have the same passion for sports,” the NCP chief said.
Ashish Shelar, who has recently been appointed as BCCI Treasurer said that political parties will not enter MCA for their political agenda but rather for the development of cricket. Deputy CM Fadanvis said to the panel during the event, “Pawar Ji is our relative. We assure everyone that we will work on your ideas and provide money to MCA for development and growth. I am handling the finance ministry and Shelar is handling MCA financial department. So I assure you that there will be no shortage of funds for MCA.”
Speaking on the occasion, Shinde said that Pawar sharing the dais with him and BJP leaders may give sleepless nights to some people. Although he did not name anyone, his remark was apparently directed at his predecessor Uddhav Thackeray. CM Shinde also said that his government stands together with Pawar. “I assure you that we will work together for MCA`s growth and development.”
Attended the dinner program held on the eve of Mumbai Cricket Association elections and interacted with all the members. On this occasion, former president of BCCI @PawarSpeaks Also Deputy Chief Minister @Dev_Fadnavis It was also present. #MCAElections2022 #Mumbai pic.twitter.com/txhl2aL3Oo— Eknath Shinde – Eknath Shinde (@mieknathshinde) October 19, 2022
Former Indian player Sandeep Patil has expressed his intentions to contest the MCA elections. But current MCA vice-president Amol Kale could also throw his hat in the ring.
MCA polls
Polls for five office bearers posts, nine councillors for the apex council and two representatives for the general council of T20 will be held on October 20. Polls for the five posts of office bearers, 9 councillors of the apex council, and two representatives for the general council of T-20, Mumbai, are scheduled to be held on October 20. Millind Narvekar and NCP leader Jitendra Awhad are among the ones contesting the election.
Millind is close to former CM and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackrey while Awhad is also a close aide of Pawar in NCP.