RCA elections face reset? HC hearing PILs tomorrow, fresh polls remain possible

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) finds itself trapped in a familiar cycle of political theater and institutional paralysis. What was promised to be a resolution after months of administrative drift has, in true RCA fashion, dissolved into yet another anti-climactic stalemate. Even though the ballots were cast, the Supreme Court’s intervention (order dated Sept 29, 2026), halting the results until the High Court settles pending disputes, leaves the future of Rajasthan cricket suspended in a state of agonising uncertainty.
The buildup to the polls exposed power dynamics, revealing deep fractures within the organisation. Initially, the race was a high-stakes standoff between Jodhpur District Cricket Association (DCA) president Dhananjai Singh Khimsar and Churu DCA president Parakram Singh Rathore.
If Parakram is to be believed, he had secured the numbers to claim the leadership, commanding a clear majority. However, a directive from the party’s Central leadership made it clear that no politician’s son would head the association. In a move of immediate compliance, Parakram, son of former Leader of Opposition Rajendra Singh Rathore, withdrew from contention and backed Dausa DCA president Brij Kishore Upadhyay in the electoral fray.
On the other hand, Dhananjai, son of state health minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar, along with other politicians’ sons, Mohit Yadav (son of BJP MLA Dr Jaswant Singh Yadav) and Ashish Tiwari (son of Rajya Sabha MP Ghanshyam Tiwari ), stood together and decided to fight the elections, confident of their strength. Meanwhile, DD Kumawat, a nominee who later withdrew, took legal counsel and moved the Supreme Court, ultimately prompting the stay on declaring the poll results.
Amidst this ongoing turmoil, actual cricket operations have quietly drifted onto autopilot. Current and former players remain conspicuously silent, either accustomed to the political drama or fearful that speaking out could compromise selection or future administrative roles. District officials insist local tournaments continue unhindered, but the systemic uncertainty continues to cast a long shadow over the state’s sporting infrastructure.
Road ahead & shifting equations: When the Rajasthan High Court resumes hearing the foundational Public Interest Litigation (filed on April 27, 2026) on Wednesday, it will not merely be reviewing the recent election process. Notably, this PIL explicitly demands that strict action be taken against non-compliant ad hoc committee members for their failure to hold elections on time, including their removal from their respective district cricket associations. Under the SC’s mandate, the HC is set to address the entire matrix of pending challenges in one unified proceeding.
“This means the court will simultaneously examine the accountability and eligibility of those who were a part of the different ad hoc panels formed over the period of two and half years, recent petitions demanding mandated female representation in RCA governance, and the legitimacy of voting rights granted to newly added or previously suspended district associations,” explained a lawyer tracking the RCA development.
Observers note that the legal battle could swing in several different directions. On one hand, there is a distinct possibility that the issue could be resolved quickly by the High Court. Insiders suggest that if the court clears the current voting process without delay, the government-backed Upadhyay & Co is heavily favoured to win, given that sources claim they have at least 30 votes firmly in their favour.
Conversely, the hearings could drag on much longer than originally expected, prolonged by the sheer volume of cross-petitions and constitutional objections, which would leave the association in prolonged administrative limbo.
Adding to the legal entanglement, an RCA insider also pointed out how there was no ombudsman appointed for the elections, which goes directly against the Lodha Panel recommendations. “According to the Lodha Committee rules, having an active Ombudsman is a prerequisite for a legally compliant election process,” he added, highlighting another structural flaw that could compromise the validity of the polls.
If the High Court rules that former ad hoc members face a conflict of interest or disqualification due to non-compliance, key contenders like Dhananjai, Mohit, and Ashish could be ruled out. If that happens, or if the court scraps the recent voting to order fresh elections altogether, the entire arithmetic alters dramatically.
In the event of fresh elections, the dynamic between Parakram and Upadhyay will face an immediate test. Instead of simply stepping aside for Upadhyay, Parakram may rethink his decision and re-enter the race for the president’s post. He could launch a fresh effort to lobby top party leaders for explicit backing, arguing that changed legal parameters alter his position,” said an RCA insider, closely monitoring the election dynamics.
Such a move would directly threaten Upadhyay’s presidential ambitions, setting the stage for a tense internal power struggle within their faction.