BCCI also out to please Modi, may make Amit Shah vice-president

You always want to be on the right side of the law, especially if your sport needs to call in a few favours every once in a while. So even as all the exit polls are predicting a BJP-led NDA alliance victory at the Centre, the Board of Control for Cricket in India is preparing a contingency plan of its own. [caption id=“attachment_1524903” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] BJP General Secretary Amit Shah. PTI[/caption] According to a report in The Indian Express , “BCCI members have little doubt that Amit Shah, BJP general secretary and Gujarat Cricket Association vice-president, will replace Mumbai Cricket Association’s Ravi Savant as the BCCI’s vice-president from the West Zone during the annual general body meeting in September.” GCA joint secretary Rajesh Patel also told The Indian Express that Amit Shah is eligible for the post by virtue of having attended two BCCI annual general body meetings. In September 2009, Shah had played a crucial role in helping the BJP wrest control of the cash-rich Gujarat Cricket Association. The GCA had been ruled by Congress strongman Chirayu Amin for over a decade and Shah brought him down by convincing all the members, district-level cricket associations to vote in favour of the BJP-backed panel. According to reports, Shah was surprised when Modi demanded the GCA president’s post but stepped aside anyway. Shah, who is Modi’s right-hand man and was also appointed the BJP’s prabhari or in-charge for the critical state of Uttar Pradesh in June 2013, not only brought unity in the anti-Amin group, he also helped them prepare a blueprint for action. Shah has been widely credited with the anticipated  gains for the BJP in UP, where exit polls are predicting anywhere between 35 and 45 seats for the NDA. Shah himself expects  the BJP to win about 55 seats in UP. The BCCI’s move also seems logical when you consider the fact that MCA president Sharad Pawar has openly backed Lalit Modi in his war against the BCCI president N Srinivasan. According to a report that was published a few days back, “It is believed that the two Modis have a cordial relationship and that says a lot in the fast-changing political climate. Though Lalit Modi is also linked to some other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, particularly to Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia, he is a Narendrabhai camp follower.” The BCCI might be looking to preempt the situation and get into the good books of Narendra Modi before he turns his gaze towards them. Considering the trouble that the BCCI has had with the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax department, having a few powerful friends in the right places will certainly help. While Amit Shah has been busy co-ordinating BJP’s big push in UP, his son Jay has been calling the shots in the GCA and has also attended BCCI meetings, according to The Indian Express report. Of course, this move could also backfire on the BCCI and the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah combine could set their sights on the post of president itself. BCCI has ignored the GCA the last few years and that might a slight they won’t forget easily.