"Whoever the opponent is, I am ready" announces Silchar DSA president Babul Hore, Praises Secratary Bijendra too

From the situation so far, it seems that Silchar District Sports Association President Babul Hore is going to face tough challenge in the upcoming BGM. Although it is not yet clear who will stand for the post of President against sports organiser Hore, it is certain that his fight will be quite tough. Because this time his fight is directly against the ruling party. The name of Silchar MLA Dipayan Chakraborty is also heard for the post of President.g But whoever stands for the post of President at the last moment, he is ready. He will fight in the polls. This is what Babul Hore firmly said at “BUKSS’ Meet the Press” event on Thursday. He also made it clear that this is the last time he will contest the elections of Silchar District Sports Association. He won’t hold any post after that but will continue to work as a member of DSA and be associated with this historical organisation.

Speaking to reporters Babul Hore said, “I don’t know who will stand against me. But whoever stands, I am ready. The rest will be decided by the members of the organisation. They will judge my qualification.” This time, the political battle is at its peak over the upcoming BGM of Silchar District Sports Association. The ruling party and the opposition camp both are competing with each other fiercely. No one is making errors in efforts to take control over DSA.

Regarding the political interference in DSA elections, the President said, “The political campaign of many candidates for BGM of Silchar DSA started mainly from the year 2018. Ahead of the Bi-Annual General Meeting, a publicity meeting of political level was held at Madhyasahar SS for the first time. It started from there. Before that candidates used to campaign but with the people in the field. Organisers would go from club to club in vehicles. They used to get support for the candidate of their choice. This was the picture from the election of Dwijesh Ranjan Sen vs. Jitendra Chandra Dasgupta for the post of President and Santosh Mohan Dev vs. Donal Crozier for the post of Secretary till 2018. However, publicity has been done in different ways at different times keeping with the era. But in recent times political outreach and interference has raised its head.”

He also said, “I have witnessed many elections in the history of DSA. I was elected to office after winning the elections at different times. But no need arose for political campaigning. However, the top clubs and organisations of the district did intervene. Nothing happened beyond that.” Although President Hore also feels that there is a need for public representatives and government representatives in the field of sports. Because, organising a tournament or infrastructure development requires public representatives. Many difficult tasks can be done easily with their intiative. Recently most district and state sports organisations are under the ruling party.

Babul Hore is associated with the opposition party Congress. He is one of the biggest faces of Cachar Congress at the moment. However, DSA President Hore said that he was never into active politics. He told, “Santosh Mohan Dev kept me with him because I was a trusted person. But I was never into active politics.” He thinks that the current political personalities are involved in sports so coming from the clubs is not a wrong decision. The club’s trouble over sending names to the General Assembly is old. However, he is not in favour of involving DSA in these matters. But why did DSA get involved in the matter of recognition of Udharband Sports Organisation? The governing body did not back down even after the Secretary gave a dissent note. President Hore’s statement in this regard is, “The Secretary is the Chief Executive of the organisation. He brought the matter on the agenda in the previous governing body meeting. As a result, a five-member investigation committee was formed to resolve it. This decision has been taken on the basis of the report of the committee and as per the last receipt the concerned sports organisation has been given the recognition.”

The bust of Santosh Mohan Dev was installed on the foundation day of DSA. This became a matter of politics. Secretary Bijendra Prasad Singh was absent from the function that day. There was also no less controversy about it. However, the President gave certificate to Secretary Bijendra today. He clearly said that the Secretary played an active role in installing the bust. Secretary Singh made the place of installing the bust beautifully. At that time he had to go out for umpiring. So Secretary Bijendra gave the responsibility of the event to President Hore. Not only in this particular event, Secretary Bijendra informed all his works to the President during his tenure. He did nothing of his own accord. But yes, since he is the Secretary and DSA is a Secretary centric organisation, he had to take many decisions by himself. There is nothing wrong in that.

Babul Hore said, “During the period of Bijendra, the infrastructure of Silchar DSA has improved greatly. Bijendra has done a very good job. The organisation has everything from administrative buildings to gyms, archives and hostels. Even the problem with the life members which was there so far has been solved very nicely by the Secretary. Keeping the BGM infront, the work has been arranged very nicely. A book of 18 pages has been published. It contains the voter’s list of 227 members. As a Secretary even I could not do this. So credit must be given to him.” In response to a question, the President said that he believes in team work. He said, “I worked with everyone when I was the Secretary. Team work is behind the recent success of Santosh Mohan Dev’s bust installation ceremony. Everyone who was invited came to that event. There were even local public representatives. The event was a success. And it is possible because of team work. Everyone cooperated.”

It is heard that many people in the current Association want to maintain a distance with the President today. In response to this he said, “I try my best. But it is not possible to keep everyone happy all the time.” In response to another question, the President said that he had increased the rent of the market complex in the past. The top of building was rented to a hotel which is the source of the Association’s income. Moreover, the marriage building adjacent to District Library was rented. Today 1.25 lakh rupees is coming as rent from that building. The construction of the new entrance in memory of his younger brother Mridul Hore is underway. It was approved at the meeting in 1979 on the road infront of the District Library. But it was not possible because of bus stand. As a result, the construction of the proposed gate was shifted to the main entrance after discussion with the current Secretary Bijendra. Moreover, the construction work of Silchar Football Academy was started with the President’s money. He gave 1.25 lakhs for it. But later the gymnasium was built in Mridul Hore’s memory as PC Chatterjee Trust donated Rs 30 lakhs.

If he becomes President again, he has three major development plans in the coming tenure. First: installation of new mats in Badminton Indoor. Second : the ideal practice arena for table tennis training. Third : creation of a football academy. Because, local footballers are gradually disappearing in domestic tournaments. The football academy is not able to fill this gap despite trying hard. So he wants another academy.