Lalit Modi to rule Rajasthan cricket for now

Call it a victory or call it a defeat for disgraced former Indian Premier League (IPL) czar Lalit Modi. But one thing is for sure, that he is going to rule Rajasthan cricket for some more time now.

Modi, in fact, has put both Rajasthan government and Indian Cricket Board in a fix. On one hand, he continues to rule the RCA after its elections slated for April 26 has now been stalled on the ground that the provisions of the “state Sports Act” do not conform with the recommendations of Justice Lodha Committee under the aegis of which these polls were scheduled to take place.

On the other hand, the ball is in the court of “friendly” BJP government in the state, which needs to amend the state Sports Act in accordance with Supreme Court orders.

For now, the election officer AK Pandey called off the polls on Sunday with an explanation that “Registrar of Cooperative Society has refused to ratify the amendments in the Constitution of RCA”.

Modi’s son Ruchir, 22, has been a contestant for the top post in this election. A move which rival faction headed by former union minister CP Joshi termed as a “sinister plan” of RCA and government to keep him away from taking control of the Rajasthan cricket.

Interestingly, it was Modi-led RCA who adopted the Justice Lodha panel recommendations some two months back in a Special General Meeting (SGM).

DNA has learnt that there were two major issues — the appointment of an Ombudsman and age cap of 70 years for fighting elections — which were not included in the SGM.