::News4u:: » Contested RCA polls as cricket was suffering in Raj: Joshi

News4u-Sports Desk-Union Minister C P Joshi, who has been elected as Rajasthan Cricket Association president, on Tuesday said he took a “conscious risk” by contesting against IPL chairman Lalit Modi but had to join the fray as “cricket was suffering” in the state.

A day after the election that was marred by some ugly scuffles between the two factions, Joshi also praised Modi, terming him a “giant” who has brought “revolution” in cricket.

“I took a conscious risk (by contesting RCA election). I am a cabinet minister and contested against a giant who has brought revolution in the cricket. Election is election. I have faced defeat also…But I decided to contest because cricket was suffering in the state,” he told reporters.

Joshi, the Union Rural Development Minister, defeated Modi 19-13 in the election.

This was Modi’s second defeat in eight months in the RCA elections.

Joshi accepted that Modi was a strong contender.

“He was confident that he had a clout.”

He, however, appreciated the contributions of Modi to the RCA, saying “When he (Modi) was RCA president he developed very good infrastructure. One should give him credit for this, for his contributions.”

But Modi did not develop the “human element” required to run the entire set up, he said.

To a question why he opted to contest RCA election in his state when he was a Cabinet minister, Joshi wondered, “as a politician can’t I have a hobby?”

“Cricket is my hobby and when I saw that cricket was not having a conducive environment in Rajasthan, as a cricket lover I felt that I should poke my nose.”

Joshi also attacked Modi for filing cases against him during election and said, “till the end, he (Modi) was after me.”

To a question about his future plans as RCA president, Joshi said, “I have a very clear goal that cricket should have a right place in Rajasthan. There should be a conducive environment for this game.”

He said he would try his best to ensure that a good environment for cricket is created in the state and outstanding players are promoted.