The exit poll is clear -- controversial Former Indian Premier League Commissioner Lalit Modi "is likely to be back as president of the Rajasthan Cricket Association," according to IANS. The ballot boxes, after the 33 district units had cast their votes Thursday, "were sent to the Supreme Court for opening and counting of votes" Jan. 6 in New Delhi. Sources in the RCA said that the faction close to Modi "has already started celebrating, confident of a sweep, though four district votes are disputed as the rival factions claimed they were the representative bodies." The election "was conducted under the supervision of the Supreme Court-appointed observer Justice N.M. Kasliwal" and he dispatched the ballot boxes to the apex court in Delhi along with his report (IANS, 12/19). The MUMBAI MIRROR reported RCA incumbent President C. P. Joshi on Wednesday "received another strongly-worded letter" from Board of Control for Cricket in India Secretary Sanjay Patel, threatening the body with dire consequences should it allow Modi to contest the RCA polls on Thursday. By evening, the BCCI was stumped as Supreme Court-appointed observer Justice N. M. Kasliwal "cleared the decks for Modi." The RCA might allow Modi to contest the elections despite Patel's caustic letter in which he says that the association's conduct is "wholly unacceptable, inflammatory and totally condemnable." Patel wrote, "We wish to give you this last warning. Apart from initiating action against your member Nagaur District Cricket Association, we wish to inform you that unless you provide sufficient proof to the satisfaction of the BCCI that Mr Lalit Kumar Modi stands disqualified for the elections of Rajasthan Cricket Association to be held on 19th December 2013, disciplinary action will be contemplated under regulation 32(iv)" (MUMBAI MIRROR, 12/19). The PTI reported the RCA sent a letter to the BCCI "clarifying its stand regarding the contentious issue" of Modi. RCA Officiating Secretary K. K. Sharma wrote in a letter to Patel, "The decision in respect of eligibility/dis-eligibility of any candidate including Lalit Modi to contest the forthcoming elections of Rajasthan Cricket Association has been taken by the Observers Hon'ble Mr. Justice N M Kasliwal and Hon'ble Mr. Justice S P Pathak, who were only entitled to take such a decision as per the orders of the Hon'ble Apex Court" (PTI, 12/19).
