HC sets RCA poll result date: June 2

The results of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) elections, held Monday (May 29), will be announced on June 2, the Rajasthan high court ordered Tuesday. The counting will be held at RCA Cricket Academy. The sealed ballot boxes are kept in the government treasury.

Justice JK Ranka passed the order on a plea filed by Bhilwara Cricket Association president Rampal Sharma who is considered close to CP Joshi, the senior Congress leader in fray for RCA president’s post.

The court also issued notices to the state sports minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar, registrar of cooperative societies, sports secretary, and additional chief secretary JC Mohanti asking why Lodha Committee recommendations were not implemented for other sport disciplines too in Rajasthan.

Former RCA president Lalit Modi’s son Ruchir is contesting against Joshi, who has also been an ex-president, for the top post.

The election was scheduled to be held on April 26 but was stalled abruptly on April 22 by RCA secretary Sumendra Tiwari.

The case landed in HC, which ordered RCA to hold the election on May 29.

The polling for the six posts as per the Lodha Committee recommendations did not take much time as there are only 33 district cricket associations, who have the voting right in accordance with the sports Act prevailing in the state.

Many in Rajasthan cricket circle believe if Ruchir wins, it will be his father who will be calling the shots from his base in the United Kingdom.

Most of the district associations feel that 22-year-old Ruchir’s entry into RCA would not help in lifting the BCCI ban and thus they approached Joshi, 67, to lead the fight against Lalit’s son. While both the factions are claiming majority, cross-voting might change the equations.

The Joshi faction though is apprehensive of the state government’s support for Modi faction, it is still confident of a victory.

“We believe we have already won the election. We would not allow the state cricket to suffer more,” said Ram Pal Sharma, who is believed to be close to Joshi. On the other hand, Mehmood Abdi from Modi faction claimed that they would be winning by a handsome margin.