Sidhra-Gawai join hands?

Rivals Hockey Promoters Panel and Hockey Lovers Panel approach Hockey Development Panel to join hands with them for Nov 27 polls

By Paritosh Pramanik

HECTIC parleys are on between all the three contesting panels ahead of the Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA) elections scheduled on November 27.
With none of the three panels sure of clear majority, members of three panels—Hockey Lovers Panel (HLP), Hockey Development Panel (HDP) and Hockey Promoters Panel (HPP) —have started talks to form the best possible group to rule the game in Vidarbha.
With Triloki Nath Sidhra’s Hockey Promoters Panel not purchasing nomination forms, speculations were rife on Monday about the former secretary and current vice-president joining hands with BC Bhartia-Vinod Gawai’s Hockey Development Panel.
Though none from both the panels—Hockey Promoters and Hockey Development—confirmed the alliance, insiders claimed that both have come together to wrest the 13-member executive committee.
Sources also revealed that Sidhra and Sharma have decided not to contest this election and support Bhartia-Gawai panel from outside.
If sources are to be believed, Sadar’s Hockey Lovers Panel members, too, had several rounds of talks with members of Bhartia-Gawai Panel but to no avail.
“HLP had offered to join hands and fight this election with Bhartia-Gawai panel this time. There was an offer to divide 12 posts among Hockey Lovers Panel and Hockey Development Panel and give the president’s post to Sardar Atal Bahadur Singh,” the source revealed.
“But members of Hockey Development Panel have demanded that members above 70 years of age should now stop from contesting and give chance to relative young members,” the source added.
Rumours also had it that Promoters Panel demanded secretary’s post for Sidhra from Development Panel members which was turned down.
“Talks are still on between them whether to vacate secretary’s post or not,” sources informed, adding, “but their members are of the view that Gawai is the best person for secretary’s post.”
Gawai was secretary of the association from 2007 to 2014 and has won many accolades for his style of functioning.
“Hockey Lovers Panel are all but sure to field incumbent President Radheshyam Sarda again for the top post and septuagenarian DS Karunashankar as the candidate for secretary’s post,” said a close associate of lovers panel.
The exact panel would be clear only by Tuesday or Wednesday when candidates file their nomination forms.
The last date for withdrawal is November 13.