The former BCCI and ICC chief edged out his challenger, Kolkata Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee, 61-56, embarrassing West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee who had publicly backed the latter in the lead up to the elections.

Dalmiya's victory provides him a platform to take on the BCCI, which has suspended him from attending board meetings, filed an FIR and slapped two showcause notices on alleged irregularities in PILCOM (Pakistan-India-Lanka Organising Committee for the 1996 World Cup).

"I am happy that I have got a platform that I badly needed," Dalmiya told the media soon after the election results were announced.

The win also came as a boost to the former BCCI chief following his long-time protege and former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly's damning e-mail in which he expressed support to the dissident lobby and accused the Dalmiya faction in the CAB of 'playing' with his career.

Dubbing Sourav Ganguly as a 'baccha' (kid), Dalmiya early on Monday said he was committed to help all players including the former Indian captain.

"He is a baccha (kid). It's not right to talk about bacchas," Dalmiya said responding to persistent questions from scribes on whether he would still back Ganguly who had sent an email, days before the CAB elections accusing the ruling faction of 'playing' with his career.

"I'll definitely help him," a beaming Dalmiya told reporters immediately after the results were announced by court appointed observer Santosh Kumar Phoujdar at the CAB headquarters at the Eden Gardens.

"Why only Sourav? As president and secretary of BCCI I stood by (Virender) Sehwag during the ball tampering controversy. I also supported Sachin (Tendulkar), Harbhajan (Singh) when the going got tough for them," he said.

"I have always looked after players. It is a religion for me. And, I cannot compromise on this."

Asked whether he would fight for Ganguly's return to the Indian team, Dalmiya said "Why not? I've always been optimistic about his return. I've always said that there is a lot of cricket left in him." Dalmiya also talked about the fact that West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee did not want him to contest, but he did so at the insistence of his colleagues.

"The Chief Minister had wanted me not to contest this election, but my companions insisted that I fight it. So, I decided to contest."

Dalmiya, with Bhattacharjee-backed candidate Kolkata Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee at his side, said "We will work together from tomorrow. There is no enmity between me and Prasun."

Mukherjee, in turn said, "It was a close contest, but a gentlemanly and a friendly fight. It was a fair election. Nobody had anything to complain about. I would have enjoyed winning, but, nonetheless I accept the result."

He said, "Dalmiya is an old hand at cricket administration. Cricket has won. I'm new to the game. But I'll be back next time."