JAIPUR: Contrary to reports of having
reached an understanding with Union Minister CP Joshi’s faction, the Lalit Modi
faction said on Wednesday that the Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman will
contest for the top post in Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) elections slated
for December 7.

“He (Lalit Modi) has decided to contest the election
irrespective of who contestant against him,” said Mehmood Abdi, president, Sri
Ganganagar Cricket Association and a Modi loyalist. “We will be coming with the
necessary documents on December 4 and file the nominations,” he
added.

With no one coming forward to file the nomination papers on
the first three days, Modi’s announcement will be seen as the call for the
battle to begin.

This move could certainly unsettle a few equations
as it was perceived so far that it would be a cakewalk Union Minister for Rural
development and Panchayti Raj, CP Joshi, in the upcoming RCA
polls.

Joshi, who was in Udaipur on Wednesday and will be reaching
Jaipur on December 4, told TOI when contacted, “December 4 is not too far
away… let me reach Jaipur and when the time comes all speculation will be put
to rest.” He was not willing to reveal his cards: “Not much time is left, let’s
just wait for a few more hours,” he added.

Grapevine has it that
Shiv Charan Mali, chairman of RCA’s ad hoc committee too is planning to contest
for the post of the president. However, when contacted he declined to reveal
anything, “There is still a lot of time left to file the nominations. We all
haven’t been able to sit together and formulate our stance,” said Mali, who is
known for his proximity to state chief minister Ashok
Gehlot.

According to observers it could now very well be a three
dimensional fight with two Congressman standing on the opposite side. “While the
Modi camp claims to stand united and is claiming to have enough votes in the
kitty, the battle will become fierce if both Joshi and Mali remain in the fray.
That would be advantageous to Modi if his votes remain intact. It is surely
turning out to be a more fierce battle this time around,” says a source.

With Modi clearing his stand, the ball is now in Congress’ court.