Buzz surrounds BJD politician entering Odisha Cricket Association prez post race

BHUBANESWAR: The forthcoming election for Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) has taken a political twist with powerful BJD leader Pranab Prakash Das emerging as a strong contender for the president’s post.
The OCA had been under the control of Asirbad Behera — whom the CBI had arrested in a chit fund case in 2019 — for around 17 years from 2000 to 2017. Behera’s son Sanjay is now the secretary since 2019.
Though Das, the BJD general secretary (organization), is yet to speak on the issue, outgoing OCA chief Pankaj Lochan Mohanty on Thursday said he won’t vie for re-election if Das enters the fray. The election is scheduled on October 28.
“We would like him to win. Being an influential leader, he will be able to fulfil many aspirations of the OCA. We hope to remodel Barabati Stadium for which government help is needed,” said Mohanty, whose three-year tenure would end soon.
Das’s probable candidacy is being spoken about in cricket administration circles after he was enrolled as an OCA voter, making him eligible for contesting election for any post. He has been enrolled as representative of his native Jajpur district and is among the 73 voting members as per the draft electoral roll published on Tuesday. Das did not respond to phone calls.
Jajpur district cricket association (DCA) secretary Gyanchand Das said many people associated with cricket administration want the BJD leader to be part of state cricket administration.
“He is a cricket enthusiast and has contributed a lot for the creation of sports infrastructure in Jajpur district. If he takes charge of OCA, it will be good for cricket in Odisha. He can ensure very good government support for the game,” the Jajpur DCA secretary said, adding that cricket infrastructure will get a boost like hockey if someone like Das takes charge.
Das, a three-time MLA from Jajpur and former energy and information technology minister, is considered a key lieutenant in Naveen Patnaik government.
If Das contests and wins, he will be the second BJD politician heading a sports body after Dilip Tirkey, a former India hockey team captain and ex-party MP who took over as Hockey India president recently.