Rohan Jaitley Emphasizes Development of Grassroots Cricket and Infrastructure Following Re-election
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New Delhi, Dec 17 (NationPress) The President of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), Rohan Jaitley, has won a second term, reinforcing the trust of the members in his leadership with an absolute mandate. Just a day post his re-election, Jaitley, who triumphed over former Indian cricketer and sitting Trinamool Congress MP Kirti Azad, vowed to prioritize the promotion of grassroots cricket and undertake major infrastructural advancements during his upcoming tenure.
Rohan, the son of the late Union Minister Arun Jaitley, garnered 1,577 votes while Azad received 777, marking a significant victory for his leadership team. The Jaitley-CK Khanna faction dominated the elections, securing all twelve spots in the managing committee.
In a media briefing convened by the DDCA's Apex Council on Tuesday, Rohan Jaitley reaffirmed his dedication to enhancing cricket in Delhi, particularly emphasizing grassroots club cricket and modernizing facilities.
"We have received an absolute mandate from the association. All twelve positions on the board have been entrusted to us unanimously by the members. Our intent is clear: we are dedicated to fulfilling the commitments we have made. We will ensure our initiatives are executed efficiently and on schedule. Our main focus is to uplift cricket in Delhi, especially at the grassroots level, while also driving infrastructural development," Jaitley expressed to IANS.
Jaitley outlined his strategy to bolster club cricket and improve financial models, infrastructure, and deliverables. Discussions also included plans for expanding cricket infrastructure, including developing a new stadium. "In the near term, our aim is to enhance grassroots club cricket concerning revenue, growth, and deliverables. This entails improving infrastructure and exploring opportunities for a new cricket stadium," Jaitley mentioned.
Recognizing recent concerns regarding the selection process, Jaitley assured that any issues would be promptly addressed. "We are aware of the recent complaints about the selection process. We will comprehensively tackle these issues to ensure any shortcomings are resolved effectively," he added.
The DDCA elections also saw Shikha Kumar win the vice-president's position, defeating Rakesh Kumar Bansal and Sudhir Kumar Agarwal. Shikha secured 1,246 votes, while Bansal and Agarwal received 536 and 498 votes, respectively. The battle for the secretary's position was closely contested between the Jaitley camp's Ashok Sharma and Vinod Tihara. Sharma ultimately prevailed, garnering 893 votes to Tihara's 744.
After his victory, DDCA Secretary Ashok Sharma reflected on the challenges that cricket in Delhi has faced over the years and the initiatives to tackle them. Sharma highlighted the lack of infrastructure in the past and praised the recent advancements under Rohan Jaitley's leadership. "The infrastructure was lacking previously; there was no proper system for playing cricket. The grounds were small, but now they are larger, although still some distance from the city. Nevertheless, the primary concern was the absence of a new stadium," Sharma noted.
He credited the transformation of the stadium to Rohan Jaitley and his late father, Arun Jaitley, who navigated significant financial and administrative challenges during his leadership. "When Arun Ji became DDCA president in 2000, there were numerous technical issues concerning the MCD and government. However, under his guidance, those challenges were overcome. Currently, the stadium is among the finest in India, equipped with world-class facilities, including restrooms, gyms, and seating infrastructure," Sharma added.
Sharma also discussed upcoming facilities for DDCA clubhouse members. Responding to a long-standing request, he revealed that plans for a restaurant and bar for members are already in progress. "We have issued a tender, and this project will commence within 10-20 days. Members wanted a comfortable space to relax, a quality restaurant, and a bar, and we are meeting that demand," he stated.
Regarding cricket-related challenges, Sharma drew on his 30-32 years of experience as a club cricketer to express his understanding of the issues faced by clubs. He assured clubs of his support, particularly concerning the contentious voting rights issue, which is currently under legal scrutiny. "Voting rights are a legal matter. The courts have already dismissed the proposition, and it now lies with the Company Law Board, as our association is registered under company law. However, I promise that if clubs secure voting rights in any manner, I will be the first to support them," Sharma affirmed.
