In a major embarrassment for BCCI, former IPl commissioner lalit Modi is set to reclaim the post of Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) President when he takes on Rampal Sharma in the state body polls tomorrow under the watchful eyes of Supreme Court-appointed observer Justice N M Kasliwal.
Earlier in the day, Modi received a shot in the arm after a Justice Kasliwal cleared his nomination to contest for the post of RCA President.
Modi is pitted against Rampal Sharma, who is believed to be close to the incumbent president C P Joshi. With more than 28 districts supporting Modi, it is likely to be a one-sided battle but these developments have made BCCI furious because Modi has been banned for life by the country’s cricket board on disciplinary grounds.
The BCCI, which had warned RCA that Modi should not be allowed to continue to hold the post of Nagaur District Cricket Association President and also threatened suspension, reiterated its stand and said that RCA might face dire consequences if it doesn’t stop the former IPl chief from contesting the polls.
It was believed that the Joshi faction, who has lost most of its supporters after BJP came into power in the recently-held state assembly elections, would withdraw its nominations but it didn’t happen.
After the withdrawls, Modi was pitted against Rampal Sharma while his counsel Mehmood M Abdi would be fighting for post of deputy president against Karunesh Joshi.
For the post of secretary, Somendra Tiwari from Modi faction is likely to win against Fateh lal Tak while Pawan Goyal from Modi’s belt was hot favorite against Kiran Kumar Gurjar.
There are nine candidates for six post of vice-president and seven in fray for four joint secretary’s posts. For the four posts of organising secretary there are six candidates. Three executive members were elected unanimously as there were only three nominations.
Earlier in the day, Justice Kasliwal, the judge appointed by the Supreme Court to oversee the RCA elections as a principal observer, accepted Modi’s candidature for the top post, rejecting the arguments put forth by his rival, Rampal Sharma’s lawyer.