New Delhi, Dec 12 (NationPress) As the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) election nears, current president Rohan Jaitley has labeled the accusations from his rival and ex-cricketer Kirti Azad as unfounded and lacking any solid evidence. Azad has made serious allegations against Jaitley, including the mismanagement of funds allocated from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

"I am not familiar with the specifics of the allegations made by my opponent (Kirti Azad), but if these accusations are surfacing solely due to the election's intensity, it raises questions as to why they have not been presented in the past three years. I find it quite surprising that someone would make unsubstantiated claims without any real proof. This situation reminds me of a past incident where the same opponent made groundless accusations against my father (Arun Jaitley), leading to misdirection among other political leaders who subsequently made their own allegations," Rohan Jaitley stated in an interview with IANS on Thursday.

"And where did those legal issues ultimately lead? They turned out to be unfounded. Hence, this is merely a repetition of a familiar narrative, recycled by him for his personal vendetta against the association's members," he continued.

Regarding Azad's debate challenge, Jaitley dismissed it as a publicity stunt, expressing his willingness for a meaningful discussion.

"It sounded like just another political gimmick. If you wish to debate me, kindly reach out directly. Instead, you sent an invitation to the press without making the effort to contact me personally, not even through a simple WhatsApp message or call. It feels like a mere façade where he claims, 'Oh, he’s younger than me, he’s like a son to me, it doesn’t matter'.

"I respect him for his achievements. He is a prominent political figure and a World Cup-winning player. However, we must remember that what is happening here is politics, which is not conducive to a healthy ecosystem. Open dialogue is essential, and I am always open to it," Rohan commented.

He expressed optimism about his campaign and is determined to be re-elected as DDCA president for another term.

"We are fully confident about the election. We have engaged with our members, provided them with a report on our accomplishments over the last three years, and shared our vision for the future. We hope the voters will choose to support us again," he stated.

"We are committed to ensuring that our panel of 12 members succeeds and that the board operates smoothly for the next three years," Rohan added.

The 35-year-old revealed his plans for the upcoming term, focusing on constructing a new international cricket stadium in the national capital that would be twice the size of the current Arun Jaitley Stadium, as well as enhancing club facilities and other infrastructure.

"We aim to develop a new international stadium with at least double the capacity of the existing one. We are also planning to create high-performance centers that will support grassroots cricketers in a comprehensive facility. Furthermore, we are looking to improve our club facilities for both members and non-members to provide them with the best resources available," he concluded.

The DDCA election is scheduled from December 13 to 15, with results to be announced on December 16.