OCA president Pankaj Mohanty files affidavit backing BCCI's stand on elections

Odisha Cricket Association President Pankaj Lochan Mohanty filed an affidavit before the Odisha High Court on September 17, 2026, stating that the OCA cannot take a stand contrary to the BCCI's position on elections and the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.

The affidavit, submitted through Mohanty's lawyers, aligned the OCA president firmly with the BCCI's demand that elections be held immediately. Mohanty warned that any departure from the BCCI's Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations would put the OCA's membership and grants at risk.

"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 as quoted by Cricbuzz.

"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. 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. I stand with the BCCI," he added.

What is the dispute over OCA elections?

The OCA had previously submitted before the High Court that the impact of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 needed to be assessed before elections could be called. The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports had recommended postponing elections until December 2026, and the OCA council had resolved on February 22, 2026 to defer the election process pending clarity over the proposed state sports bill and future BCCI directives.

The last full OCA elections were held in October 2022, with the next elections originally due in October 2025 following the three-year term under the BCCI's MoA. Mohanty, Secretary Sanjay Behera and Treasurer Bikash Pradhan have all held their positions for more than six years, exceeding the constitutional limit of two three-year terms. Mohanty himself was elected unopposed as OCA president in February 2025 following the resignation of then-president Pranab Prakash Das.

The BCCI told the court that the OCA must conduct elections immediately, with its legal position approved by BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia.

"...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 affidavit said.

What does the National Sports Governance Act mean for cricket?

Mohanty's affidavit addressed the central legal question of whether the National Sports Governance Act, 2025 applies to the BCCI and state cricket associations. His filing noted that cricket has not been notified as a designated sport under the Act, and therefore neither the BCCI nor state associations fall within its purview.

"...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," the affidavit said.

"It is humbly submitted that the Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations of BCCI has been approved by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and there is no dispute that BCCI is not funded either by the Central Government or by the State Government. BCCI is a non-dependent body and is not managed by the Government,therefore, BCCI does not come under the umbrella of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025," it added.

The Odisha High Court has posted the OCA election matter for its next hearing on September 22, 2026. Separately, the BCCI Annual General Meeting is scheduled in Mumbai on September 18, 2026, where the board may issue an advisory to the OCA. The OCA is being represented in court by Secretary Behera.