Lalit Modi ‘ousted’ as RCA chief in coup
In an apparent bid to end the standoff with the BCCI, the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) has “removed” former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi as its president.
Once a Modi loyalist and vice-president Amin Pathan, who led the “coup”, will take over as acting president. Three of Mr Modi’s supporters have also been removed.
The RCA called an extraordinary general meeting on Saturday, wherein the resolution to impeach Mr Modi was passed after 23 district associations voted against the former BCCI vice-president.
Others removed were deputy president Mehmood M. Abdi, secretary Somendra Tiwari and treasurer Pawan Goyal.
Mr Abdi said the meeting was unconstitutional and the group was trying to destabilise the organisation at the behest of N. Srinivasan.
“These are completely fake claims. Firstly, the bylaws of the RCA do not have any provision for this kind of a meeting. Secondly, who are these people to remove a body which came through elections which were conducted under a Supreme Court-appointed observer,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Modi is believed to have sent a mail suspending those RCA office-bearers who participated in Saturday’s meeting.
At the general meeting, the entire Nagaur district cricket association, of which Mr Modi was president, has also been suspended. To contest the RCA election, it is imperative to be an office-bearer of a district cricket association.
Acting president Pathan, also state president of the BJP’s minority cell, said, “We have taken the decision in the interest of the players and the game. Our teams were not allowed to play by the BCCI... later they were allowed but not as RCA teams (sic).”