Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) president Lalit Modi formally announced his candidature for RCA presidentship on Monday and pulled up his socks for the "fair and square battle".

"We want that the government interference should not affect the RCA elections. It should be a fair and square battle," Modi said challenging his detractors. Modi along with the Kota district cricket association secretary Anim Pathan, who has filed nomination for the post of secretary, submitted 41 forms on behalf of his faction to fight on all the 21 posts of RCA.

Modi, arrived at the RCA election observer justice NM Kasliwal's house to file his nomination papers with his legal advisors—Supreme Court advocates SS Hora, Ankur Chawla and Mehmood Abdi to take care of the legalities relating filing of the nomination forms. Modi said, "I have been nominated to fight for the president post. I have filled nomination for only one post."

Besides, his rival RCA secretary Subhash Joshi faction has already filed 61 nomination forms for different posts. Modi said, "There is no election without opposition. We are ready to contest elections on all the post to win them."

Modi skirted around the question about the number of district associations supporting him. "I cannot predict. I am not a predictor. But March 1 (election day) will disclose everything."

Modi, who is IPL chairman and BCCI vice-president, affirmed that this election is important for him as it is his home ground and his dreams are associated with the state. "I have a dream to make Rajasthan a cricket hub. I want to develop similar cricket academy in Jodhpur, Kota, Ajmer and other districts of the state. My work is half done. I want to complete my work, which is also my dream," Modi said.

Rising pitch Poll officer RC Jain, appointed by the RCA secretary Subhash Joshi, has been replaced by retd judge Bihari Lal. RCA poll observer NM Kasliwal said, “We have received objection against Jain from the Modi faction.” He added, “If someone files complaint against his [Modi’s] eligibility to fight the poll, we will investigate into it.” (DNA Correspondent / DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication )