Modi assured of re-election as RCA president

The exit poll is clear -- controversial cricket czar of yore Lalit Modi is likely to be back as president of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA). The ballot boxes, after the 33 district units had cast their votes Thursday, were sent to the Supreme Court for opening and counting of votes Jan 6 in New Delhi.

Sources in the RCA told IANS that the faction close to Modi, former IPL chairman who is in hiding in London, has already started celebrating, confident of a sweep, though four district votes are disputed as the rival factions claimed they were the representative bodies. Modi is almost assured of a win against his challenger Ram Pal Sharma.

Earlier this year, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had expelled Modi, also a former vice-president of the BCCI, for life for his role in alleged financial irregularities in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL).

The votes of the rival representatives from Ajmer, Hanuman Garh, Dungarpur and Pali district associations have been sealed and will be opened if they have any bearing on the outcome of the result.

The election was conducted under the supervision of the Supreme Court-appointed observer Justice N.M. Kasliwal and he despatched the ballot boxes to the apex court in Delhi along with his report.

For the six posts of vice-presidents, there are nine candidates and for four joint secretary posts there are seven candidates. For the four posts of organising secretary, there are six candidates. Three executive members were elected unanimously as there were only three nominations.

The BCCI has threatened the RCA with suspension if the former IPL chairman and commissioner comes back as the RCA president. The incumbent RCA president C.P. Joshi, also a former union minister, and BCCI are trying to stop Modi's re-election.

Modi was earlier elected as the RCA president in 2005 when the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government was in power in the state. Raje is again back in power as the BJP swept the recent Rajasthan Assembly elections.