Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) President Pankaj Lochan Mohanty has backed holding the association’s long-delayed elections, departing from the OCA’s earlier position that the implications of India’s National Sports Governance Act should be assessed before the electoral process moves forward.
According to a report by Cricbuzz journalist Vijay Tagore, Mohanty set out his position in an affidavit filed before the Orissa High Court on Thursday, aligning himself with the BCCI as the legal dispute over the OCA elections continues. The association had previously pointed to a Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports recommendation seeking the postponement of elections to sports bodies until December 2026.
The change in position comes with the OCA elections already overdue by almost a year and raises questions over how the association will proceed as the BCCI presses for an immediate vote.
Mohanty warns of risks to OCA funding and membership
Mohanty’s court submission places the OCA’s relationship with the BCCI at the centre of his case for following the board’s position.
“The Odisha Cricket Association cannot take a different stand contrary to the stand taken by the BCCI, in as much as the stand of the BCCI is in conformity with its Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations,” Mohanty said in an affidavit filed before the Orissa High Court.
His affidavit also addressed the potential consequences for the state association if it departed from the BCCI’s governance framework. “Any deviation from the Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations of the BCCI would render the membership as well as grant from BCCI at peril in terms of Rule 3 (b) (I) and Rule 3 (b) (3) of the Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations of BCCI.”
Mohanty subsequently reinforced that position directly when contacted about the dispute. “On my behalf my lawyers have submitted in the court that we cannot go against the BCCI. It’s our parent body. The BCCI gives us the grants and we risk being denied the funding and derecognised,” the OCA President told Cricbuzz.
When asked whether his position amounted to a call for elections, Mohanty told Cricbuzz: “I stand with the BCCI.”
BCCI pushes for immediate OCA elections
The BCCI has already placed its own position before the High Court, arguing that further delay would put the OCA in conflict with multiple governance requirements.
“…it’s imperative that the Odisha Cricket Association should hold its election immediately. …else it will be in violation of Odisha Cricket Association’s own bylaws, BCCI’s MoA and directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court…” the BCCI said in an affidavit filed before the Orissa High Court.
The BCCI’s intervention and Mohanty’s subsequent alignment with the board contrast with the OCA’s earlier submission that the effect of the National Sports Governance Act should first be considered before elections are called.
The governance dispute has developed against the backdrop of extended terms for senior OCA office-bearers. Mohanty, OCA Secretary Sanjay Behera and Treasurer Bikash Pradhan have each remained in their positions for more than six years, beyond the constitutional provision preventing an office-bearer from serving for more than two three-year terms.
Sports Governance Act becomes central to court dispute
Mohanty’s affidavit also challenges the application of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 to cricket and state cricket associations.
“…it was clear that no State Cricket Association of the Country comes under the purview of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. The BCCI in its Counter Affidavit has categorically stated that even though the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 has been enacted, the sport of Cricket has not been notified as a “designated sport” for the said National Sports Governance Act, 2025. It has been further emphatically stated that BCCI is not subjected to the provisions of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025,” Mohanty said in the affidavit.
His submission further argued that the BCCI’s Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations have received Supreme Court approval. It also maintained that the BCCI is neither funded by the central or state governments nor managed by government authorities, supporting his position that the board falls outside the Act.
The question of the Act’s applicability is significant because the OCA had previously relied on the need to assess the legislation’s impact when arguing against immediately proceeding with its elections.
High Court proceedings continue as BCCI holds AGM
The election dispute is continuing as the BCCI prepares to hold its Annual General Meeting in Mumbai on Friday, where the OCA is being represented by Secretary Behera. The BCCI could also issue an advisory to the state association over the election issue.
Former cricketer Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra had approached the Orissa High Court seeking directions for the OCA elections to be conducted, bringing the prolonged delay before the court.
With Mohanty now supporting the BCCI’s position, the association’s President and its previously stated stance no longer point in the same direction on when the election process should proceed. The High Court has posted the matter for September 22, when the dispute over the long-pending elections is set to return for further consideration.
