Jaipur: 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 does 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.
Bhilwara District Cricket Association secretary, Sharma, a close aide of incumbent RCA president C P Joshi, had objected to Modi's candidature on the ground that the RCA stands to lose its rights and privileges as BCCI member if Modi was voted to power.
The judge also cleared the nomination of another Modi aide Pawan Goyal, secretary of the Alwar District Cricket Association, to contest the elections for the Treasurer post.
Kasliwal arrived at the decision after hearing counsels for both the parties earlier today.
Opposition lawyer argued on three points: Modi's passport has been revoked by the Mumbai Regional Passport Office following the probe by the Enforcement Directorate; he can't run the day-to-day affairs of the RCA sitting in London, and he can't contest the RCA elections as per the BCCI's rules and regulations, which say all the members, including RCA, are bound to follow the decision taken and directives issued in the interest of cricket board, especially those related to disciplinary proceedings.
However, lawyer Abhinav Sharma, appearing for RCA, countered that since the RCA was governed by the Rajasthan Sports Act 2005, the BCCI ban was not applicable on the former BCCI vice-president; there is no need for him to be physically present all the time and he can run the management of the RCA from London; and that the client (Modi) has not received the copy of probe report submitted against him to BCCI till date.
BCCI, RCA president Joshi still trying to stop Modi: Abdi
BCCI, RCA president Joshi still trying to stop Modi: Abdi
Jaipur: The Supreme Court appointed observer may have allowed him contest Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) polls, but BCCI and current president CP Joshi are doing everything to prevent Lalit Modi from fighting the elections, said former IPL commissioner's legal counsel Mehmood Abdi.
Despite being banned for life by the Indian Cricket Board, Modi had defiantly filed his nomination for the elections, which prompted a livid BCCI to threaten suspension of RCA for letting him back.
Now Joshi has also issued an advisory to all district associations to follow BCCI diktat and not elect Modi as the RCA president.
This move from Joshi, who was deserted by almost all of his supporters, has been severely criticised by Abdi, who himself is fighting for post of deputy president against Karunesh Joshi.
Abdi, who is Modi's spokesman, has termed the advisory issued by Joshi advising district cricket association to follow BCCI dictate not to elect Modi as RCA president in the election scheduled for tomorrow as "malicious and motivated".
In a statement issued here today, Abdi said that "C P Joshi is trying to do indirectly what he could not achieve directly".
"Mr. Joshi firstly tried to prepone the elections, which failed due to the intervention of the hon'ble Supreme Court of India that appointed two retired judges as independent observers to conduct and ensure fee and fair elections," said Abdi.
"Moreover, CP Joshi backed out of the fray sensing the mood of the RCA voters and put a proxy candidate in the new election schedule. Conduct of Shri Joshi is completely out of sync with an experience politician which he is and it is against the established election etiquettes, which forbids allurement or threat and duress to voters.
"Moreover, CP Joshi has no legal or moral authority to issue any directive, particularly about who to vote for and that too on the eve of the election," he added.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.
Modi is pitted against Rampal, who is believed to be close to Joshi.
"With open participation of Shri CP Joshi as proxy for BCCI shows that that the trail starting since yesterday is all procured and sponsored to deter the overwhelming of District associations to Lalit Modi. Why such mail did not come from BCCI about Lalit Modi's so called disqualification when the elections were scheduled for 24th November," questioned Abdi in the statement.
"Lalit Modi's candidature for RCA presidentship has been cleared by the two observers appointed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India after due deliberations. As such the order of Justice NM Kasliwal and Justice SP Pathak, supreme court appointed principal observer and the observer is binding on all concerned. It's like a judicial order," he further added.
