Lalit Modi's next move?

BEHIND THE NEWS


Two exasperating losses in the Rajasthan CricketAssociation elections within a short span of a year have left thecanny Lalit Modi looking for a fresh toehold in board politics.Without a vote, you are pretty much persona non grata in the murkyworld of BCCI politics. Moreover, Modi's tenure as BCCI vice presidentcomes to an end next year. While he remains IPL Commissioner andPunjab Cricket Association president, he finds that BCCI secretary NSrinivasan is increasingly applying pressure on him. As such, Modineeds to enlarge the sphere of his influence in board politics. Hisbenefactors Sharad Pawar and Inderjit Singh Bindra are no longeractive within the board and while they have clout in the ICC, Modi isfinding it difficult to manoeuvre. The recent RCA fiasco turned into aCongress vs BJP election as Ashok Gehlot sympathiser Shiv Charan Malipulled out in favour of Union rural development minister C P Joshi.Modi's proximity to former BJP chief minister Vasundhra Raje has lefthim with few friends in the Congress fold.
Will Modi's wings as IPL Commissioner also be clipped after thestaging of the third season. While he has managed to create a gingergroup to bring pressure to bear on the cricket board by activelyencouraging the seven franchise owners, this has not gone down wellwith the board secretary Srinivasan who is also the owner of theeighth franchise - Chennai Super Kings. Srinivasan is an industrialistand promoter of India Cements. He too fancies himself as acommercially savvy entrepreneur. The fact that Modi and Co failed tohawk the Team jersey has also not gone down well within the board. Atan asking price of Rs 3 crore per game, nobody even came forward orevinced any interest in it. THis left the board red faced and itultimately had to plead with Sahara to continue as the sponsor tillJune, 2010.
Buit Modi is not just savvy, but a survivor. When the UPA Governmentrefused him permission to stage IPL 2.0 in India, he along with IMGarchitected the holding of the tournament in South Africa and that tooat very short notice. His recent trip to Kolkata, ostensibly toinspect the Eden Gardens has once again triggered speculation on hisnext move. Modi himself knows that without a vote, he cannot play anactive role in BCCI's affairs. Board insiders reckon that newalliances may well be forged in board politics. With BJP top guns ArunJaitley (DDCA), Anurag Thakur (HPCA) and Narender Modi (GCA) nowfirmly ensconced in the board, the next round may well be interesting.Modi's visit to Kolkata and his cordiality with CAB president JagmohanDalmiya, a past master in board intrigue may well result in a new rumpbeing created.
Dalmiya who was practically consigned to the rubbish heap of historyhas fought back to re-take his bastion - the CAB and with that votemake an impression in the board. When Sharad Pawar vanquished Dalmiyafor the BCCI presidentship, it was Modi who played a pivotal role inshaping the victory. This left Dalmiya and Modi at daggers drawn. Butcricket board politics is such that foes become friends in no time, aslong as it results in riches for both protagonists. Dalmiya hasn'tforgotten his defeat first for the BCCI presidentship and then the CABpresidentship. He is all set to play an important role in boardpolitics once again. The battlelines may well be drawn on Congress vsBJP lines in the BCCI. Modi, a Marwari may well be seeking fellowMarwari Dalmiya's support to strike back at his detractors within theboard led by president Shashank Manohar and Srinivasan. Modi has toensure some sort of position in the board, and once his tenure as vicepresident ends, he needs to make a statement. Board insiders claimthat with the north, west and south opposed to him, there is only theeast to strive for.
The Look East policy may pay dividends as it is East Zone's turn toelect the BCCI chief in 2014. The BCCI presidentship which runs on arotational system may well find Modi making a play for an importantposition from the East with Dalmiya's support. The dogged Modi mayeven be contemplating contesting for the presidentship of the BCCIfrom the East through one of Dalmiya's affliates in the Zone. Thewires quoted Modi full of praise for Dalmiya on Tuesday. "Dalmiya is avery experienced administrator. He has been there for a long longtime. We are all learning from him," he told mediapersons. ForDalmiya, an alliance with Modi could be an avenue for hisreinstatement in the centre-stage of BCCI politics. Modi is one of thefive vice presidents in the board, representing the central Zonecurrently. By virtue of being a player in BCCI politics, Modi ischairman of the tour and fixtures committee, as also a member of themarketing committee and chairman of the IPL Governing Council whereanother old BCCI hand Niranjan Shah is the vice chairman..