Basil
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BJP Government at Centre May See Powerful BCCI Role For Close Narendra Modi Aide Amit Shah
With exit polls predicting a clear win for the BJP in the general elections and a central government led by Narendra Modi, his close aide Amit Shah is expected to be a powerful man soon. Already, there is talk that BJP general secretary and Gujarat Cricket Association vice-president Amit Shah may become one of the five vice-presidents of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
If Amit Shah is inducted, he will replace Ravi Savant, the current West Zone representative from Mumbai Cricket Association. A final decision, however, will be taken at the Board's Annual General Meeting in September.
Amit Shah, a former Gujarat minister, has played a key role in these general elections with charge of the BJP's Uttar Pradesh campaign. Exit polls say a spectacular performance in UP will be the bedrock of the likely BJP win.
For several years now, cricket aficionado Shah has been an active member of GCA. BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is the president of GCA. Shah has represented Gujarat in BCCI's AGMs and qualifies to become a vice-president, according to GCA joint secretary Rajesh Patel.
Savant was inducted in September last year as a BCCI vice-president. He replaced Saurashtra's Niranjan Shah. As per convention, the president of BCCI 'ratifies' the names of the five vice-presidents in his team. Last year when N. Srinivasan won a year's extension, Savant replaced Niranjan Shah and SP Bansal came in place of Arun Jaitley from North Zone. The others vice-presidents are Rajeev Shukla (Central), Chitrak Mitra (East) and Shivlal Yadav (South).
The changing political scenario may impact the formation of BCCI. Srinivasan, stood down by the Supreme Court due to the 2013 Indian Premier League match-fixing and betting scandal, will surely face stiff opposition in case he is cleared by the court to seek another term. It is East Zone's turn to nominate a president this time.
Should Modi become PM and Shah comes in BCCI as a vice-president, the banned Lalit Modi may well return to cricket administration. Lalit Modi has been elected as the president of Rajasthan Cricket Association but has not been able to take charge. The BCCI has suspended Rajasthan for electing Lalit Modi, who enjoys the support of the state government run by BJP.
