Countdown begins for Lalit Modi's fall

NEW DELHI: IPL's Governing Council meeting is likely to ask embattled Lalit Modi to voluntarily step down from the high profile post of Commissioner and Chairman when it meets to decide his fate on April 26.

The top officials of the BCCI held a series of meetings during the day to discuss the entire controversy and chalk out a strategy to find an appropriate way to deal with Modi, who is at the centre of a raging IPL controversy.

BCCI President Shashank Manohar had a meeting with Sharad Pawar, the BCCI heavy weight who is regarded to be close to Modi, and briefed him about the views of the other Governing Council members.

A top BCCI source indicated that Modi would be asked to step down from the post at the Council meeting in Mumbai and Pawar has also given his consent to the move.

"It will be in the best interest of the IPL and the BCCI that he steps down from the post. But if he does not do so, the Governing Council may be forced to pass a resolution against him to remove him," the source said.

"There is near unanimity within the Board that Modi has to go. He has no choice now. It is the only logical conclusion," the source said.

The BCCI top brass feels that Modi's position has become untenable following the series of allegations levelled against him and the "cleaning process" can start only after his removal.

Support for Modi within the BCCI has been dwindling fast and it would be difficult for the beleaguered Commissioner to wriggle his way out of trouble this time around.

With the noose tightening around Modi and issue gaining political overtones, there was intense speculation that Pawar would also use his influence to talk to Modi and persuade him to quit.

Although there was no official word on what exactly transpired during the Manohar-Pawar meeting, the statement that "unanimous and collective" decision will be taken by the the Council is being interpreted as strong indication of the impending doom for the high-flying Modi.

Significantly, Pawar had a meeting with Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and the Home Minister P Chidambaram in the morning before being closeted with Manohar.

Manohar then had a meeting with Media and Finance Committee chairman Rajiv Shukla and DDCA President and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitely to discuss the issue.

The BCCI is keen to sort out the issue as quickly as possible but much more depend on what stand Modi takes and how he defends himself.

"If Modi decides to fight it out, the matter then could be dragged to the Special General Body Meeting where it would come up for voting," the source said.

There was also a proposal within the BCCI to set up a committee to probe Modi's alleged financial irregularities but some members are in favour since the government has already decided to go into all aspects of the IPL.