Cuttack: Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) cannot keep its elections in limbo indefinitely, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has told Orissa high court, asserting that the state body must conduct polls immediately to comply with its own by-laws, BCCI rules and Supreme Court directions.In an affidavit, the BCCI said its memorandum of association (MoA) prescribes a three-year term for office-bearers and permits a maximum of three terms, or nine years, in all. More importantly, an office-bearer can hold a post for only two consecutive terms and must thereafter observe a three-year cooling-off period. “These rules have been adopted by BCCI in furtherance of the judgment of the Supreme Court dated August 9, 2018 and September 14, 2022,” said the affidavit, placed before Justice Savitri Ratho on Aug 21.The board maintained that these Supreme Court directions were equally binding on the OCA. Compliance, it said, was also necessary for the state association to continue as a BCCI member and retain its recognition.The affidavit was filed in a petition by OCA council member Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra and Cuttack-based Sunrise Club, challenging the indefinite postponement of the polls, originally due in Oct 2025.Emphasising the need for timely elections, BCCI said office-bearers and elected members of the state associations play a key role in administering cricket and therefore their continuation in office must remain within the prescribed limits.BCCI senior manager (legal) Melinda Colaco filed the affidavit pursuant to the high court’s Aug 13 direction seeking its response on the OCA election dispute.The court, after hearing the matter, directed it to be listed on Aug 27 at 3pm for further hearing.The BCCI pointed out that the OCA’s own by-laws contain a similar restriction on consecutive terms.The OCA council had on Feb 22 resolved to defer the election process pending clarity over the proposed state sports bill and future BCCI directives.The last full OCA polls were held in Oct 2022. After then-president Pranab Prakash Das (BJD leader) resigned, Pankaj Lochan Mohanty was elected unopposed as the president in Feb 2025.lalmohanpatnaik2019@gmail.com