Bengal Sports Minister to contest as CAB President

Kolkata, Jan 14 (UNI) In a dramatic twist to the sports-politics in the CAB, West Bengal Sports Minister Subhash Chakraborty today reportedly announced his decision to contest as president of the state's cricket body in the coming election.

''I have decided to contest as President of Cricket Association of Bengal. I have talked to my pary and there is no problem in my decision,'' he was quoted by two Bengali news channels as saying from Goa.

What gives the CAB polls a curious turn with Mr Chakraborty's reported announcedment is the fact that his opponent, city Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee, is a candidate of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

Sports circles believe that the maverick sports minister, not known for having best of relations with the chief minister and having had aroused many a controversy within the government and his party CPI(M), is being backed by the Dalmiya camp, fighting a proxy war with the ruling camp.

The election will be held to fill the vacant post after former President Jagmohan Dalmiya resigned in accordance with the rule of BCCI following his expulsion from the country's apex cricket body.

Mr Prasun Mukherjee, who was defeated by only five votes by Mr Dalmiya in the last CAB election held on July 29, 2006, had already announced his candidature for the second time.

The Annual General Meeting of CAB has been fixed on February 1.

UNI