N. Srinivasan wins South Zone support, can court stop him from chairing BCCI AGM?

With less than a week left for the Board of Control for Cricket in India annual general meeting in Chennai, N. Srinivasan's intense desire to chair the all-important Board meeting is sure to face a few legal obstacles. The Cricket Association of Bihar, which in August moved the Supreme Court to institute a fresh panel to probe the Indian Premier League spot-fixing and betting scandals, had on Monday filed an application seeking an interim injunction restraining Srinivasan from attending the September 29 meeting. The Supreme Court has now agreed to hear the plea seeking to restrain Srinivasan from contesting for the BCCI president's post at its Chennai AGM.

The Bihar association had in August filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court after the Bombay High Court had termed as "illegal and unconstitutional" a BCCI probe panel that gave Srinivasan and his son-in-law and Chennai Super Kings team owner Gurunath Meiyappan among others, a clean chit.

Further to the SLP (No. 26633/13) in the apex court, the Bihar association, on Monday, filed an application saying that Srinivasan should not be allowed to attend any BCCI meetings till the Supreme Court had disposed of the IPL case. Interestingly, the Supreme Court is in no hurry to hear the BCCI lawyers on the IPL corruption issue.

Srinivasan has already expressed his desire to chair the September 29 meeting where he is expected to seek a one-year extension as BCCI president. His two-year stint is coming to an end this month and he is technically qualified to stretch his innings.

Srinivasan has in recent weeks attended BCCI's disciplinary and marketing committee meetings in spite of a July 4 Bombay High Court affidavit where he said he would stay away from the BCCI's "day-to-day" affairs. It will be interesting to see how the Supreme Court interprets at what several feel an act of defiance by the BCCI boss in exile.

Meanwhile, Srinivasan looks confident of winning a mandate to rule the world's richest cricket body by another 12 months at least. According to BCCI sources, Srinivasan has got the support of all six South Zone affiliates - Tamil Nadu (his home state), Karnataka, Kerala, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh and Goa. Last week there were doubts over Andhra Pradesh and Goa's 'vote' but officials from both associations have been quoted in the media pledging their support to Srinivasan.

As per Board constitution, a presidential candidate wishing to contest an election must be nominated by two units from the incumbent's home association - South Zone in Srinivasan's case. But with Srinivasan ensuring that all six South associations are behind him, there will be no "proposer" or "seconder" to push for a contestant.