Maharashtra CM Chavan may take on Pawar in MCA elections

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan is likely to contest the next month's election for President of Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), a post held in the past by top politicians from the State.

If everything goes according to indications available till now, he may be pitted against NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who too has expressed willingness to throw his hat in the ring.

Mazgaon Cricket Club has nominated Chavan as its representative, fulfilling one of the pre-requisites for contesting elections for the prestigious post.

"Prithviraj Chavan has filed his representation," an MCA source told PTI today.

However, it is not known whether Chavan will finally take the plunge and contest the October 18 election.

According to rules, a candidate needs representation of an MCA-affiliated club to contest the poll. Tomorrow is the last date for clubs to prepare representative voter list.

The MCA election dates were announced after a long delay and the last date for nomination is October 11. The papers would be scrutinised on October 12, and withdrawals if any, would take place on October 15.

The candidates, whose names have been doing rounds for the presidency are - former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar and Pawar, who has held the post in the past.

Union Minister Pawar, a former President of BCCI and also ICC, has shown interest in contesting the election, according to incumbent MCA President Ravi Savant.

"He (Pawar) has declared he will be contesting the election. Anybody can contest if he has got proper representation of a club, and he has got it.

"Recently, he changed his address, because of the technical objection raised last time. He has expressed his wish to me and it is quite likely that he will contest," Savant had earlier said.