What is Modi's plan of action?

NAKED EYE

Why is Modi quiet?

It is one of the defining developments in recent times. Why isdiscredited IPL commissioner Lalit Modi keeping quiet? This, despitemaking pronouncements that he will unmask BCCI office bearers fortheir collusive intent. He even hired a top Delhi based publicrelations agency to strike back at his detractors. But that operationtoo has been maintaining a stoic silence lately. I have spoken twice to Modiin the last couple of days - immediately after his suspension late onSunday night and yesterday as well - both times his response has been acryptic - wait and watch. He is not willing to say anything else. Hisclose associates have been telling me that Modi is planning to mount alegal challenge. Talk has also been doing the rounds that he is jawjawing with senior counsels. But I checked with one of the seniorcounsels as well and he clearly articulated that Modi has notapproached him yet. So, why is Modi not revealing his hand? Is it primarilybecause Modi is waiting for the Supreme Court's direction on A CMuthiah's petition in the apex court filed on Friday?
People who understand BCCI politics which is essentially based on theedifice of a vote bank reckon that Muthiah's plea is significant tothe fortunes of Modi. How? Muthiah's challenge is based on questionspertaining to board secretary N Srinivasan's 'conflict of interest'.Remember that not only is he an office bearer of the BCCI but one ofits beneficiaries too as Chennai Super Kings owner. The Times of Indiareported, "Muthiah, a known Jagmohan Dalmiya camp member and rival ofthe present dispensation, has alleged that the rule was suspended inthe 2008 AGM of the BCCI ostensibly to benefit present Board secretaryN Srinivasan, who is also the managing director of India Cements thatowns Chennai Super Kings team. Muthiah's petition filed throughadvocate Vikas Mehta alleged that suspension of clause 6.2 rule 4 inthe 2008 AGM of BCCI was illegal as it allowed its administrators totake business interest in the most commercial events organised by theBoard -- IPL and Champions League T20.
"Clause 6.2 rule 4 of BCCI applying to players, team officials,managers, umpires and administrators, says: "No administrator shallhave, directly or indirectly, any commercial interest in the matchesor events conducted by the Board." Though Muthiah had cited thisconflict of interest pertaining to Srinivasan in a letter to SharadPawar on September 5, 2008, a two-member committee of Shashank Manoharand Niranjan Shah had recommended a change in the clause during theAGM, which suspended the rule "for events like IPL or Champions LeagueT20". Coincidentally, it was the erudite lawyer in Manohar, who haddrafted clause 6.2.4 when Muthiah was the BCCI president, the petitionsaid.
"The petition challenged a March 24 verdict of the Madras High Court,which had refused to entertain Muthiah's plea. At that time, IPL wasgoing great guns. On the other hand, Srinivasan was expecting Muthiahto move theSupreme Court and has already filed a caveat in the SC through counselHari Shankar to prevent the former BCCI president from pressing forany ex-parte order against him on the issue."
The plank of Modi's legal challenge working in conjunction with theoutcome of the Muthiah petition will form the bulwark of the futurecourse of battle. Under the ambit of conflict of interest, Modihimself can be trapped by his rivals in the BCCI. For his linkageswith RR, Kings XI Punjab and even KKR leave room for doubt. Contractsgiven to Global Cricket Ventures's Gaurav Burman who is related to himthrough marriage are also under the microscope. So, Modi too can getembroiled in the 'conflict of interest' loop. Modi clearly hassomething up his sleeve,he will need to establish that the IPL Governing Council is culpableand it cannot shy away from the responsibility of collective decisionmaking. Will he then file a petition against BCCI for unlawfulsuspension? What kind of data is he likely to share with his legalcounsels?
Lots of questions, but no answers forthcoming. Is Modi worried thatthe Muthiah challenge can impact him adversely as well? Or does hebelieve that the moment he opens his mouth, skeletons peratining tohis political masters in and outside the BCCI will come tumbling out.His proximity to Sharad Pawar is well known. We suffer from temporaryamnesia for one of the best stories in the Modi saga has clearly beenthe one written by Business Standard which implicated two Unionministers, both from the same regional party, who pressurised theRendezvous management into giving up the franchise. Somehow that is atthe kernel of this dispute which has dragged a lot of people includingModi and Tharoor down. Conflict of interest can pull some more holycows down, including top former cricketers. Will operation cover upsucceed with the sacrifice of Modi or will it ensure that dominoescontinue to collapse in a heap. Too many people have too much to loseand too much at stake in the BCCI whirligig. Everyone is compromisedand they would want to step out of the turkish bath exposed andunclothed.
All eyes on Modi. Can't believe for a moment that this combativecharacter will walk away into the sunset without a murmur. It is notin his DNA. Also a final input - two other top BCCI office bearers,presidents at that - Jagmohan Dalmiya and I S Bindra have beensuspended and humiliated in the past. But after serving their threeyear suspensions bounced back and are once again part of the cricketboard.