MCA polls: 'Don’t worry, we’re there,' Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis tell voters

Ashish Shelar-Sharad Pawar panel with CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday

CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis have promised that all pending issues related to cricket development and administration will be resolved at the earliest. They were addressing the representatives of the clubs, schools and institutes who will be casting their vote in the ensuing elections of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). The two were invited by a cocktail panel of leaders and associates of the principal political parties such as the Shiv Sena's two warring groups, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Nationalist Congress Party, on Wednesday night.

The head of state and his deputy have promised that the security bill worth crores that has been raised by the city police over the years for several tournaments will be waived, new pitches and stadia will be constructed wherever land is available in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and MMR towns. In addition, the lease agreement of at least 54 club premises at several playgrounds including Shivaji Park, Azad Maidan and Oval ground, and Wankhede Stadium will be renewed soon. They said they will ensure that sport quota recruitment in the government gathers pace.

Also Read: Maharashtra: Eknath Shinde faction gets 'two swords and a shield' as poll symbol

The leaders whose parties are at loggerheads in the political arena have joined forces to take control of one of the richest state bodies. Backed by NCP boss, the former MCA and BCCI president, Sharad Pawar and BJP's ex-minister and MCA president, Ashish Shelar, who has also filed a nomination for the MCA presidency, the panel has Thackeray Sena's Milind Narvekar, NCP's Jitendra Awhad and Shinde Sena's Vihang Sarnaik among the other contestants for office-bearers' and apex council members' offices. In Wednesday's meeting, some prominent NCP representatives were not present, but others shared the dais with the CM and Deputy CM at Sahyadri Guesthouse.

The candidatures from the all-party team and other panels will be known after nominations are withdrawn on Friday. Polling will be conducted on October 20. Former India player Sandeep Patil is expected to rival Shelar for the president's post, but he may have a different opponent because the BJP leader is likely to pull out because he is set to become the BCCI treasurer. Incumbent V-P Amol Kale or sitting secretary Sanjay Naik could replace Shelar's candidature. Kale is a childhood buddy of Fadnavis.

In Wednesday's meeting, Shelar requested Shinde and Fadnavis, who is also the home minister, to remove the police bill from their dil (heart). To this, Fadnavis said that Shelar was in their heart because he was going to be the BCCI treasurer and to not worry about the dues.

One of the attendees said the duo endorsed Shelar's demands, asking him to reserve some to be raised when they return. "Ye dene wali sarkar hai [this is the government that gives] and we are both here today," the CM was reported as saying and joking about his political batting in the past three months. Shinde assured to develop a cricketing arena along Thane's Ghodbunder Road. Both leaders said that there was no politics in sport and they were committed to taking the game forward by supporting the Shelar-Pawar panel.

Assurances

>> Waiver of security bill worth crores
>> Construction of new pitches and stadia wherever land is available in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and MMR
>> Renewal of lease of at least 54 club pitches at Azad Maidan, Oval ground and Wankhede Stadium
>> Sport quota recruitment

Oct 20
When the MCA election will be held