New Delhi: In the midst of the growing pandemic in Delhi and the sharp rise in the number of Corona positive cases, the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA), is faced with a dreadful situation of being forced to hold its elections with the next month and a half. 

The problem is to get around 4500+ members to come and vote and most importantly, around 50% of its voter list is over 60 years with health complications and prohibited to travel under Covid guidelines by the state and the Centre in the current scenario.

As per the Delhi High Court order dated June 17,  2020 elections to the post of president and treasurer along with four directors have to be held with six weeks of the order. The president post has been lying vacant ever since Rajat Sharma resigned citing severe interference from Apex Council members.

ROHAN JAITLEY IN THE RACE AS ONE OF THE LEADING CANDIDATES FOR THE PRESIDENT'S POST

According to sources, Rohan Jaitley, son of late Arun Jaitley, former law minister and DDCA president after whom the Delhi cricket stadium has been named, could be filling as the consensus candidate for the president post.

A faction of DDCA office bearers are keen to bring him to the fold and evenet with him and made aware of their request and as per sources, he was inclined on taking up the responsibility under the condition that he remains a consensus candidate.

Meanwhile, sources are also indicating that Rajat Sharma could also be seeking to get re-elected again as president with afresh batch of representatives in his group for Apex Council.

This is after several members made requests to come back and put the house in order again and start again from where he left off. However it is very clear that there will be no face-off and only one of the two would stand for the position.

The best option scenario for DDCA is going in with consensus candidates but that is unlikely for treasurer or director posts, making this a tedious process with elections to be held over several days under present circumstances.

DDCA has been a headless body with raging court cases after the Ombudsman and lower court orders making remaining office bearers like vice president, secretary and joint secretary ineligible to continue on their posts. The Delhi High Court is yet to hear the argument on eligibility of secretary and vice president or add those positions in the upcoming elections.

To make matters worse, DDCA Arun Jaitley Stadium, previously known as Feroz Shah Kotla, is already a base for migrant workers and is on verge of being taken over as quarantine facility as per government policies with respect to all available stadiums.

Members are wary of the order passed by the High Court and do not want to come out in the open to cast their votes. While online voting is the easiest option under these circumstances, it has the possibility of being rigged and most of the members are not too tech savvy either.