Won't be able to provide security to IPL matches: Sushilkumar Shinde

NEW DELHI: The seventh editon of Indian Premier League ( IPL) will not be provided security this year as the dates clash with upcoming general elections, an electoral exercise which may be stretched to seven phases.

This was conveyed to the BCCI by the Union Home Ministry which said adequate security could be provided only in case the dates of the sporting event was postponed after the electoral exercise scheduled to be over in middle of May.

The BCCI, which has options of holding the matches in South Africa, Bangladesh and United Arab Emirates, is likely to take a final decision on this issue in the next few days.

"We have conveyed to the BCCI that we will not be able to provide security to IPL matches. Our forces will be deployed for security of Lok Sabha elections. So, how we can give them forces," Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters here.

IPL matches are likely be held in the April 9 to June 3 window.

BCCI, in its meeting on February 28 held in Bhubaneswar, had devised a strategy by which they can at least hold a substantial part of the seventh edition of IPL in India as per the wishes of the franchises if the counting of votes in the general elections end by May 15.

Nearly two lakh central paramilitary force personnel, in addition to state police forces, are expected to be deployed for the multi-phased Lok Sabha polls.

The sources said that the Home Ministry has started preparing for the massive exercise of mobilising the security personnel from different paramilitary forces to be deployed for poll duties.