Mired in controversy once again, uncertainty hangs over RCA elections – 2017

Jaipur: Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) elections – 2017 are once again mired in controversies. Hours after reports of elections being called off, a fraction in RCA came in support of Congress leader CP Joshi, who is tipped to be fighting for the top post, and said that polls would take place as scheduled.

A hectic day was witnessed on Sunday at RCA in Jaipur where a meeting of executive committee took place. Five deputy presidents of RCA took part in the meeting. Of total 21 members of the committee, 16 were present.

Many Lalit Modi loyalists switched sides and supported Joshi.

RCA Deputy President Mehmood Abdi said that he was taking strong exception to “the bogus impression created by irresponsible statements issued by vested interests” about the elections being called off.

“These statements are baseless and malafide as the decision to call off the election is solely determined on legal grounds,” said Abdi in a statement.

When the process of election started the amended constitution of the RCA brought in line with the recommendation of Lodha Committee was pending before the registrar of cooperative societies. As such pendency of approval was no bar to go ahead with the election process, Adbi said.

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Registrar of cooperative societies of Rajasthan returned the amended constitution to RCA, but the new constitution was rejected on the grounds of eight points which are not in conformity with the Rajasthan Sports act, 2005. Some of the points are as follow:

• In terms of Lodha Committee recommendations RCA made provision for formation of players association. Whereas, there is no provision for such an association in the sorts Act in sports.
• In terms of Lodha committee recommendations RCA provided for nominated members in the executive committee of the Association. While there is no such provision in the sports Act.
• In the amended constitution the election notice is issued by the electoral officer as per the Lodha committee terms. But in the sports act, the notice is to be issued by the Hony. Secretary of the Association.
• In terms of Lodha committee no person can be in the executive committee of the association for more than three terms. Whereas, there is no such bar in the sports Act.
• The “cooling off” applicable to the office holder after completion of three years in office is not in conformity with the sports Act.
• The age bar of 70 years, and bar on persons holding Ministers office, Government savants, association with any sports body other than cricket, being in office for maximum of nine years in continuation as provided in terms of Lodha Committee are not in conformity with the sorts Act.
• Provision for Ombudsman and the Ethics officer in terms of Lodha Committee recommendations and the powers vested in such positions are not in conformity with sports act.
• The dispute resolution process as provide as per Lodha Committee recommendations are also not in conformity with the sports.

“It is constituted and governed by the Rajasthan Sorts Act and under the Judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court BCCI and all its constituent state associates are mandated to bring their constitutions in line with the Lodha committee guidelines. RCA followed the suit and amended its constituted to fall in line with Lodha reforms. It is mandatory under the Supreme Court judgment on Lodha Committee recommendations,” said Abdi.

He said that if any state association holds its election without following the Lodha committee recommendation it will be deemed void and every association is bound to amend its constitution.

“Not only that any association formed  in the manner other than as devised by the Lodha committee scheme will not be recognized by the BCCI. As such, going ahead with election process would not only render the entire process of election void and illegal but would just be a meaningless cosmetic exercise with consequence other than falling in line with defaulters of Supreme court orders,” said Abdi.

In view of these developments, RCA brought the rejection of the amended constitution by the registrar of the cooperative societies to the notice of the electoral office, Abdi said.

“Who after due consultation with election observer Gyan Sudha Mishra, retired judge of the Supreme Court  decided to call off the election process since the amended constitution under which the entire process was initiated stands rejected by the appropriate authority,” he added.

“If RCA sticks to its old constitution it defies Lodha Committee recommendation and the Supreme Court order. And if it implements the Lodha Committee reforms in its constitution, it will be in violation of the sports Act under which it is constituted,” he added.

In a series of tweets, Lalit Modi also supported the elections being called off.

However, CP Joshi fraction was opposed to this and said that a new election officer would be deputed.

Nominations were to be filed on Sunday and it was widely believed that CP Joshi would fight against former IPL boss Lalit Modi’s son Ruchir Modi for the post of RCA president.

It is believed some district associations, loyal to Modi, switched their loyalty at the last moment after Joshi came into the picture.