JSCA Elections on May 18: Ajay Nath Shah Deo and SK Behera in fray for President’s post

SK Behera gains member support in meeting ahead of polls

Jamshedpur, May 7: The race for the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) elections, scheduled for May 18, has intensified, with two major factions emerging. Congress leader and former JSCA Vice President Ajay Nath Shah Deo will contest for the post of President, facing off against RSB Group Managing Director SK Behera. The contest is expected to be closely fought, with both camps gearing up for a decisive battle.

Former Indian cricketer Saurabh Tiwary from Jamshedpur has been fielded as the Secretary candidate by the Ajay Nath Shah Deo group. Meanwhile, SK Behera’s faction, supported by JSCA member Akhilesh Jha, has named SB Singh as their candidate for Secretary. Former JSCA Vice President from Dhanbad, Manoj Singh, is also contesting for the post of Vice President from the Behera camp.

On Wednesday, the SK Behera faction held a strategic meeting at a hotel in Bistupur, where several JSCA members pledged their support to Behera. The group projected him as the new face of Jharkhand cricket, emphasizing the need for a progressive and transparent leadership. Sources said the meeting saw key stakeholders from across the state aligning behind Behera’s vision.

In a new development, former international cricketer Shahbaz Nadeem is likely to contest for the post of Joint Secretary. He is in close coordination with the Ajay Nath Shah Deo group and may officially file his nomination soon.

According to JSCA sources, the official election notification will be issued shortly. The election will fill 15 positions in the Committee of Management, including one seat each for President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Joint Secretary. Additionally, there are five posts for committee members, four for district committee members, and one each for school and club representatives. The elected committee will serve a term of three years.

Voting rights in the election will be exercised by 638 life members, along with representatives from 25 clubs, 29 schools, 10 institutions, and 23 districts participating in the JSCA league. Former president Kuldeep Singh is also speculated to contest again for the top post, although no formal announcement has been made.

With both factions actively campaigning, the election is poised to be one of the most significant in recent JSCA history.