| Tripura Cricket Association deadlock:president, secretary feud reaches court | | | agencies
AGARTALA, Apr 25: The power struggle between the president and the secretary in the faction-ridden Tripura Cricket Association (TCA) has reached the court, with each challenging the authority of the other.
According to the cricket body members, after the BJP led government came to power in the state, Professor of Tripura Medical College Manik Saha - who later become the president of Tripura BJP - and renowned cricketer Timir Chanda were elected as President and Secretary of the TCA apex council for three years in 2019.
The secretary's camp has alleged that since the beginning Saha did not allow Chanda to discharge his lawful executive function. Chanda was twice removed from the secretary's slot over the past two years by the president, but on both occasions, the high court reinstated him.
According to the Chanda camp, after getting elected as Rajya Sabha member last month, Saha as per cricket law and the recommendation of Justice (Retd) R M Lodha panel recommendations, should have stepped down as TCA head, but refused to relinquish his position. Instead, he "seized" the executive rights of Secretary and initiated the process of his removal.
"Violating the law and direction of Supreme Court, Dr. Saha threatened to mobilise muscle power to retain his position in TCA and remove me from the post of secretary. He prevented me from signing official papers and bank operations, which forced me to move to the high court last week and the court revalidated my position and advised the president to allow me to function as per law," Chanda said.
According to the Chanda camp, no person can hold any position in TCA if he/she holds any office of profit or a political post. Therefore, they argue that Saha should have
quit as TCA president immediately after being elected as BJP state chief, but he didn't.
And rather than resigning, Saha "conspired" to "remove" the secretary and indugled in several irregularities including allowing members in the apex council to select players, use TCA funds and carry out other administrative functions, Chanda's camp alleged.
Last year, Saha attempted to seize the power of secretary by reportedly opposing the "illegal activities", but the high court turned it down. But even then, Saha allegedly didn't allow Chanda to perform his duties against the corruption charges labelled against some TCA members. Rather, he isolated the secretary, Chanda loyalists maintained.
However, reacting to the controversy TCA Vice President Joy Lal Das said a "vested quarter" has launched the malicious attempt to "harm" the president's personal image.
"Since the matter is sub-judice, it's not wise for me to make any comment on the charges framed against Dr Saha. But he is trying hard to develop Tripura cricket with the support of everyone," Das pointed out.
Clarifying the recommendation of the Justice Lodha committee, Das said there was no bar on holding any TCA position for MPs or MLAs. The restrictions are for ministers and others who hold positions in the government. Therefore, Saha's position is valid.
Saha also denied the allegations, calling them "fabricated". "All are fabricated and whatever I did everything is legal," he added. |
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