BCCI decision to shift IPL finals to Ahmedabad may be due to commercial viability: Minister
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwra on Thursday said that the BCCI might have decided to shift the IPL finals venue from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad considering commercial viability.
He clarified that distributing tickets to MLAs has nothing to do with shifting the final match, while asserting that there have been no complaints regarding security or arrangements in Bengaluru.
Ahmedabad will host the IPL final for a second successive season on May 31, replacing the "originally designated" Bengaluru, the BCCI announced on Wednesday while allotting Qualifier 1 to Dharamsala and two other playoff games to New Chandigarh.
"There have been five matches here and there hasn't been even a single complaint regarding security. They (BCCI) have no reservations regarding the arrangements. There have been no complaints about police or administration from the IPL, RCB or KSCA," Parameshwara said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "Unofficially, what we have learned is that the stadium (Chinnaswamy stadium) here has about 33,000 seats, and of those, about 7,000-8,000 passes or seats are blocked for VIPs, sponsors, RCB, and the teams playing the final match. Only about 25,000 passes will remain."
"Since it will not work out commercially, they might have decided to shift the match to Ahmedabad, which has a one-lakh seat capacity. This discussion has been ongoing since the beginning. While KSCA wanted the match to happen here citing rules that the first and last matches should be held at the reigning champion's home turf, perhaps they (BCCI) made an exception," he added.
Rejecting reports that giving match passes to legislators was the reason behind shifting the match, the home minister said, "This has nothing to do with it. How many passes have been given? What difference will four passes make?"
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar also on Wednesday refuted allegations that the IPL final venue was shifted from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad due to the distribution of tickets to MLAs. He said the reason for the shift could be the availability of a larger stadium in Ahmedabad.
Bengaluru was scheduled to host the final going by convention as Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the defending champions. Apart from last year, Ahmedabad has previously hosted the IPL finale in 2022 and 2023.
"Bengaluru was originally designated to host the final. However, owing to certain requirements from the local association and authorities that were beyond the scope of BCCI's established guidelines and protocols, the venue has been shifted and reassigned," the BCCI stated in a press release without specifying the exact requirements in the Karnataka capital.
In March, Shivakumar announced that three free tickets for IPL matches would be provided to each MLA, while two complimentary tickets would be given for international matches, with an option to purchase two more, following discussions with representatives of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, which manages the city's Chinnaswamy stadium. This drew criticism from various sections.
Shivakumar's announcement followed legislators across party lines in the Assembly raising the issue of improper ticket and seating arrangements for them at the city's premier venue. Following this, Speaker U T Khader had asked the government to ensure that every MLA receives four VIP tickets at the stadium during matches.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Marxism will remain relevant despite Left electoral's losses, says general secretary M A Baby
New Delhi (PTI): CPI(M) General Secretary M A Baby on Thursday asserted that the Left movement would remain relevant despite not being in power in any state, saying the ideology would continue to endure as long as social and economic inequalities persist.
Hitting back at BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar over his reported remarks that Marxism had become irrelevant, Baby, in an interview with PTI Videos, said, "So long as there is division in society, so long as there is exploitation of the majority of workers, peasants and ordinary masses by a handful of billionaires, Marxism will remain relevant."
"That perhaps Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar may not be able to understand, but this is the fact of the matter," he said.
Baby acknowledged that the CPI(M)-led Left was currently without an elected government in any state, but maintained that electoral setbacks would not diminish the movement's role.
"We may not have an elected government in any state. There were occasions when we didn't have a government. But the red flag and the commitment to organise and struggle for the rights of the dispossessed, marginalised and exploited will always be upheld by CPI(M) and the Left movement," he said.
He said the Left continued to enjoy support among workers, peasants, agricultural labourers, youth, students and women, and argued that the movement remained necessary because "oppression and assault" continued in society.
"So long as such problems exist in society, the red flag and the working class movement will continue to work among the masses," the Left leader said.
Exuding confidence on the Left's revival, Baby said the party would reflect on the reasons behind its electoral loss.
"We may be rejected in one election, but we will stage our comeback by understanding what went wrong with us," he said, adding, "We will listen to people and we will come back with higher strength."
Baby also criticised the Congress over reported factional tensions in Kerala after the Congress-led United Democratic Front's victory in the state.
"The way they are behaving is being watched by the people of Kerala," he said, referring to infighting within the Congress.
"Those who have given a massive majority to Congress and UDF would be watching all this," he added, while urging party leaders to "settle the problem in an amicable, democratic manner".
Referring to West Bengal, Baby alleged that violence had escalated following the BJP's victory in the state assembly polls.
"It is quite unfortunate that the moment BJP snatched a massive victory in West Bengal, violence has also started on a big scale," he said.
He also accused the Trinamool Congress of being "notorious for violent activities" and alleged that the "RSS-controlled BJP" had "unleashed violence in many places" after the election results.
"This is not good for Bengal, not good for the country. We wish and hope that normalcy would be restored as soon as possible," he said.
Baby said the CPI(M) and the Left in West Bengal would continue efforts to "pacify people" and avoid violence and confrontation.
Asked about former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan not reacting publicly to the election results, Baby said Vijayan would respond "at an appropriate time".
_vb_80.png)