Modi group sweeps RCA elections

The Board of Control for Cricket in India's political equations were redrawn on Monday after the Lalit Modi-led group scored a landslide victory in the Rajasthan Cricket Association elections, ending the decades-long reign of the Rungta clan.

Modi defeated Kishore Rungta in a direct fight for the post of RCA president by a 20-12 margin in the elections conducted under the supervision of Supreme Court-appointed observer Anil Dev Singh, former Chief Justice of Rajasthan high court.

It was a clean sweep by the Modi group, which won almost all the seats including the posts of deputy president, vice-presidents, secretary, treasurer and joint-secretaries.

The Rungta group, which held power for over 30 years, could win two posts through Balkishen Upadhyaya (organising secretary) and Satish Vyas (an executive member).

Immediately after the results, Modi acknowledged that the new ordinance promulgated by the State government played a large part his victory.

"If there has been no ordinance, I could not have won," he said.

As per the Ordinance promulgated last year, only district associations can vote in the elections of a state federation.

The RCA has 32 district members and 63 individual members. The individual members reportedly owe their allegiance to the Rungtas, thus helping them stay in power irrespective of how the district members vote.

Modi's win, although legal, could be nullified should the Supreme Court declare valid the individual votes that were cast today but were not taken up for counting.

Modi's associate Bimal Soni grabbed the deputy president's post, defeating Shiv Charan by 18-13 votes.

The six vice-presidents' posts were won by M S Sachhar, Raj Kumar Gupta, Rajendra Singh Rathore, Rajesh Arya, Ramesh Gupta and Vimal Sharma.

The secretary's post went to Subhash Joshi of Sikar, who defeated Ashok Ohari by 17-15 votes. The treasurer's post was won by C P Ojha of Bhilwara, who edged out Anant Vyas 17-15.

Amir Pathan, Giriraj, Nripjeet Singh and Rajesh Sharma were elected as joint-secretaries.

The election of four organising secretaries was too close as all the five candidates in fray got 16 votes each. But Sunil Rana was left out by draw of lots while Balkrishna, Harish, Karunesh Joshi and Mukesh Bohra were declared elected.