Chennai: The Indian cricket board's annual general meetings are never short of controversies and legal battles. The BCCI elections in 2004 and 2005 were one of the most dramatic proceedings. Jagmohan Dalmiya and Sharad Pawar went all out trying to oust each other. In 2004, Dalmiya's candidate Ranbir Singh Mahendra beat Pawar by one vote. Maharashtra was startlingly barred from voting as others (29 affiliates) voted 15-14 in favour of Pawar. Then came Dalmiya's coup. As chairman of the AGM, Dalmiya voted to tie it at 15-15 and used his casting vote (to break the tie). Win for Mahendra. Since Dalmiya is also president of the Cricket Association of Bengal and of the NCC, he actually had four votes of the 31 cast! The 2005 was marred by court cases. The AGM was convened twice and adjourned both times within a couple of minutes before being postponed. In the elections held under the supervision of chief election commissioner T.S. Krishnamurthy, Pawar beat Mahendra comfortably ending Dalmiya’s two dcade dominance.
