Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman and BCCI vice-president Lalit Modis meteoric rise to fame has not been without controversy,but the wealthy industrialist has always emerged unscathed from the mire. But the fall of the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government in Rajasthan,to which Modi was considered close especially as his ascent to power began under it,has already begun to spell trouble for him. The new Congress regime has wasted no time in training its guns on him,spelling a trying time for the creator of the multi-billion IPL enterprise who now fights just to retain his post as the president of the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA). Just last Saturday,following a much-publicised altercation with RCA secretary Subhash Joshi,Modi was summoned by the police for allegedly misusing Rs 22 lakh from the RCA,even as the power struggle to take over the reins of the cricket body intensified last week. The list of allegations against Modi include illegal land deals,misappropriation of funds and even rubbing senior IAS and IPS officers the wrong way. Not only does Modi have to worry about two new complaints filed against him by various cricket associations in the state last week,he is also in danger of coming under the scanner of the N N Mathur Commission,constituted by Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot to look into corruption allegations to the tune of some Rs 22,000 crore during the BJP governments regime. But Modi is presenting a brave face and brushed aside the allegations against him. These cases have no value at all. But there is so much kichad (mud),I want to get rid of this once and for all. I am saying take my thumb impression and send it to the forensic lab. I will resign if I am proven guilty, Modi told reporters on Saturday. Meanwhile,the RCA continues to reel under the tussle between Modis camp and that of its secretary Subhash Joshi when Lalit Modi appointed a three-member arbitration tribunal to look into complaints by RCA members and to decide if he is fit to continue as the bodys president,Joshi said the move was unconstitutional and that fresh elections would be held on February 22. Modi,meanwhile,stated on Sunday that his actions were within the ambit of the constitution and it was not up to Joshi to decide when elections would be held and that he had divested Joshi of his powers. The RCA remains divided. A senior member of the association said,Using his political clout with the previous government,Modi ensured that the Rajasthan Sports Act (RSA) was passed. Earlier,the RCA elections were dependent on district and individual members,but RSA ensured that only the votes of district representatives counted. The matter has now reached the Supreme Court,which is yet to issue a judgement. But the Modi camp insists that the IPL chairmans impressive track record will hold him in good stead. While Modis lifestyle these past few years can be called anything but modest with indulgences including residing only in the luxury Rambagh Palace Hotel in Jaipur and travelling only with a personal security escort and his legal counsel- his supporters insist that has been anything but detrimental to the state. Modi was single-handedly responsible for renovating the SMS Stadium and turning it into a world-class cricketing venue. Other than this,Modi also spearheaded the construction of other stadiums and grounds across districts in Rajasthan, insisted a senior member of the RCA. Incidentally,it is the very issue of the SMS stadium,the venue of several IPL matches in 2007,which the N N Mathur Commission is likely to probe. According to the Congress,Raje signed an MoU with the RCA,giving the latter exclusive rights to lease the stadium out for matches. And though the stadium was not used to host Republic and Independence Day parades,the Congress government reversed the trend on January 26,2009. The Congresss hostile stance against Modi,however,is not a recent development and began in the run-up to the recently concluded Assembly elections. Modi was the de-facto CM in Rajasthan. It is no secret that he stays in the Rambagh Hotel and negotiates land deals for the BJP government, senior Congress leaders were heard in pre-election public meetings. They even added that Modi had more power in Rajasthan than the ministers and MLAs because of his proximity to Raje. Following the BJPs defeat in the Assembly elections at the hands of the Congress,onlookers are waiting to see if Modis rise to power and success,which was equated with Rajes ascent to the post of CM,will also emulate Rajes fall from grace. But on Sunday,the states new Chief Minister,Ashok Gehlot,maintained that his government would not interfere in matters concerning the RCA and Lalit Modi. This is just RCAs president and its functionaries groupism. How would the government come into the picture? If the police act on any FIR against the RCA or any functionary,why should the government make an order . the law always takes its own course, Gehlot told reporters at the PCC office in Jaipur. The former BJP government might have taken decisions regarding RCA or issued an ordinance . it could be the previous governments vested interests. the RCA election shall be held peacefully in a free and fair manner, Gehlot said.
