Ramit Mehrotra, Pune
On Monday, Vaibhav Gehlot resigned from his post as Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) president on constant state government’s Sports Council interference with RCA and its ownership of Sawai Man Singh Stadium. He also alleged that the government had targeted him to create an atmosphere of mistrust among the public and stakeholders. The moves spurred after the Rajasthan Sports Council (RSC) issued a notice to the RCA upon their agreement with SMS stadium expiring on February 21 and wish to seek control of the premises. The RCA could no longer utilize the cricket ground and the blocks where the RCA office is situated. The sudden development comes as the Rajasthan Sports Council absorbs the Sawai Man Singh Stadium, which has the RCA office planted. RCA is accused of prolonging the liabilities and having outstanding dues.
Former CM Ashok Gehlot’s son, Gelhot, alleged that the siege of the association was a vendetta move by the administration that has come to power. He said no RCA officer had raised an issue before, or else he would have resigned earlier. Since the IPL is descending in a few months, he doesn’t want any simmering discontent with the players and the organizing committee and should sniff any negative sentiment within the government bodies. So resigning from the post was the only step he could make in his capacity. He stated the renovation efforts he made to revamp the Jodhpur and Jaipur stadiums to make them appropriate for playing. Additionally, he also made a world-class stadium in Jaipur.
Gehlot says the hurry peddled by the government is riddled with sheer political malice. Despite the overdue expiration of the MoU, the situation could have been handled peacefully, instead of imposing sudden restrictions. Such sweeping decisions will affect the element of trust between the national organizations and the sports associations. He said RCA doesn’t have a stadium, so it signed an agreement with the SMS stadium to help conduct all international matches there. The construction of a stadium is already underway, on the Delhi – Jaipur highway in partnership with the Vedanta group.
Vaibhav was elected as an RCA president in October 2019, months after the grand old party’s Lok Sabha loss, with the help of party leader CP Joshi. He was re-elected to the post undefeated in 2022.