The Special General Body Meeting of the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) on Sunday turned stormy after senior member Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra staged a walkout, alleging that the current leadership is deliberately delaying the association’s elections.
The controversy has sparked fresh debate over governance, transparency, and compliance with national sports regulations.
Walkout Over Alleged Delay in Elections
Mohapatra walked out of the meeting in protest, claiming that the tenure of the current office bearers had expired in late 2025 and that elections should have already been conducted.
He accused the OCA President and Secretary of using the “New National Sports Code” as a pretext to postpone the polls.
“Elections were supposed to be held in October 2025. In a previous meeting held in Puri, it was decided to postpone the polls until after the India–South Africa match in December 2025. That match is long over, yet there is no notification,” Mohapatra told reporters.
Reference to BCCI and Lodha Reforms
Mohapatra questioned why the OCA has not followed the path of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and 17 other state associations that have already completed their elections in line with the recommendations of the Lodha Committee.
He further alleged financial irregularities within the OCA spanning nearly two decades and warned that he may move court and formally write to the BCCI seeking intervention.
The allegations have added another layer of tension to an already divided cricket administration in the state.
OCA Secretary Defends Stand
Responding strongly to the charges, OCA Secretary Sanjay Behera defended the association’s position, stating that the body must comply with the prevailing national legal framework.
“When a national law is in place, we cannot ignore it. The New National Sports Policy has been enacted, and we must align our election process accordingly. We are also awaiting specific directives from the BCCI,” Behera said.
He added that a proposal was discussed during the meeting to hold elections under the new legal provisions after December 31.
Disapproval of Walkout, Uncertain Timeline
Behera termed Mohapatra’s walkout “inappropriate” for a General Body member, asserting that internal matters should be resolved through discussion rather than public confrontation.
For now, the current office bearers will continue in their roles until the legal and procedural clarity required for fresh elections is achieved.
With both sides holding firm, the issue is expected to escalate further, potentially drawing the attention of national cricket authorities in the coming weeks.