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While Sharad Pawar and Rajeev Shukla's names are doing rounds, the seasoned politicians may not find it easy to get a proposer and seconder from Eastern Zone, where there are as many as six votes, comprising Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Odisha, Tripura and National Cricket Club (NCC).
The sudden demise of veteran administrator Jagmohan Dalmiya has turned the Board of Control for Cricket in India into a divided house, with the East Zone units deciding to prop up their own candidate.
In a new twist to the intense succession battle, the East Zone units, in all likelihood, are going to field joint-secretary Amitabh Chaudhary of Jharkhand as their candidate for the post of BCCI president.
While Sharad Pawar and Rajeev Shukla's names are doing rounds, the seasoned politicians may not find it easy to get a proposer and seconder from Eastern Zone, where there are as many as six votes, comprising Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Odisha, Tripura and National Cricket Club (NCC).
There is every possibility that if Shukla or Pawar throw their hat in the ring there will be an election and not a unanimous selection.
As for Pawar, the former ICC and BCCI supremo is testing waters at the moment and will only offer his candidature if he is sure of at least 16 votes for which he would need government support.
In any case, a veteran of electoral politics, he is known to take decisions after long and hard deliberation.
East Zone officials had an informal discussion with each other over the last two days and have come to the conclusion that till 2017 the president should be one from their own zone.
"The East Zone states want that somebody from the zone becomes the president. At this point of time Amitabh Chaudhary fits the bill perfectly," a top BCCI official from East Zone said on condition of anonymity.
"He had been an IPS officer, has managed Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA), has attended AGMs and is an office-bearer. At least, four East Zone units will back Chaudhary's candidature. Our contention is till 2017 it should be someone from the East Zone. If not, then one can't rule out the possibility of an election. You can be rest assured if Pawar fights, CAB and NCC (kind of Dalmiya's family club) won't vote for him," the senior East Zone official said.
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