In a decisive mandate for change, the Venkatesh Prasad-led panel secured a resounding victory in the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) elections held on Sunday. The former India fast bowler's team clinched four of the five crucial office-bearer positions, marking a significant shift in the state's cricket administration.
A Convincing Victory for the Prasad Camp
The election, a direct contest between two panels, saw Venkatesh Prasad triumph over KN Shanth Kumar by a substantial margin of 747 votes to 558. This set the tone for the day, as Prasad's colleagues also registered impressive wins. In a closely fought battle for the secretary's post, Santosh Menon made a comeback, defeating ES Jairam. Menon had relinquished the same position three years prior.
Prasad's former teammate, Sujith Somasundar, was elected Vice-President, overcoming Vinod Sivappa. The treasurer's post went to BN Madhukar, son of former secretary late C Nagaraj. The only post secured by the opposing Brijesh Patel-affiliated group was that of Joint Secretary, won by former international umpire BK Ravi.
Historic Moments and Cricketing Backing
The elections witnessed a historic moment with the election of former international cricketer Kalpana Venkatachar. She became the first woman ever to be elected to any position in the KSCA. Alongside former Karnataka wicketkeeper Avinash Vaidya, she was elected to the managing committee from the Bangalore Zone.
What was anticipated to be a tight race turned into a one-sided affair as counting progressed. The Prasad panel enjoyed robust support from cricketing legends. Anil Kumble was present at the venue when the results were declared, and an emotional Santosh Menon hugged him after the final numbers flashed on the large screen. Javagal Srinath campaigned extensively for the team, though he missed the election day due to his duties as an ICC match referee in New Zealand.
The voter list was a who's who of Karnataka cricket, featuring legends like GR Vishwanath, Rahul Dravid, Roger Binny, Sunil Joshi, and Shantha Rangaswamy among the 1,307 life and institutional members who cast their votes.
The Road Ahead: A Promise to Bring Cricket Back
An elated Venkatesh Prasad, who had campaigned strongly on the platform of reviving international cricket at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, reiterated his commitment immediately after the victory. "First and foremost, this is a victory for the sport of cricket," he stated. "It is a victory for members who wanted change and for everyone who wanted international cricket to return to Chinnaswamy. This is a win for all stakeholders — especially the fans."
He also expressed gratitude to stalwarts like Kumble, Srinath, and Shantha Rangaswamy for their unwavering support. Kumble, who was among the early voters, posed happily with the winning team post-results.
Elections were conducted for the five office-bearer posts and ten managing committee positions. Shekar Shetty from the Mangalore Zone, representing the Shanth Kumar panel, was elected unopposed to the managing committee.
Full Results Summary:
- President: Venkatesh Prasad (747) bt KN Shanth Kumar (558)
- Vice-President: Sujith Somasundar (719) bt Vinod Sivappa (588)
- Secretary: Santosh Menon (675) bt EA Jairam (632)
- Joint Secretary: BK Ravi (669) bt AV Shashidara (638)
- Treasurer: BN Madhukar (736) bt MS Vinay (571)
The new administration now faces the immediate task of fulfilling its core promise: navigating the BCCI's scheduling to ensure that international cricket makes a triumphant return to Bengaluru's hallowed stadium.
