In far,far pavilion,Kochi a mere spectator

So even as the national parties line up in the Modi vs Tharoor battle,no political leader in Kerala has yet taken a stand,except for some BJP and Congress workers burning Tharoor and Modi effigies,separately.

The one common sentiment is that nobody is shedding any tears for Tharoor,earlier hailed as the mentor who had got IPL to Kochi. Some Left-backed publications have taken him on since revelations that his friend Sunanda Pushkar had a considerable stake in the venture.

It didnt begin like this. While Kerala has never been too much of a cricketing state,despite a rare Sreesanth or a Tinu Yohannan in the national squad,the surprise March 20 announcement of a consortium bidding successfully for an IPL team for Kochi with Rs 1,533 crore had set off a buzz of excitement.

In a state where several mega projects are stuck in controversy,showing no signs of a resolution,it looked like an investment deal that would break the mould,clinched at a breakneck speed.

An excited Tharoor announced that state capital Thiruvananathapuram,his constituency,would also have an IPL team. And that film director Priyadarshan and actor Mohanlal were expected to join the IPL Kochi consortium. An IPL team for Kerala was,in fact,first broached by these leading movie figures,but they have not pitched in so far.

A large section of the Congress camp in Kerala is gloating over Tharoors discomfiture. The party leadership in Kerala was not happy with the mysterious way he had brought in investors for the IPL. His actions looked like that of a broker. Although the leadership is indignant about the developments,none will speak out considering his clout in the party high command, says a senior Congress leader.

The ruling CPM,on the other hand,is caught in a dilemma. While it is itching to take on Tharoor,and consequently the Congress,it does not want to be seen as doing anything to cement its image of being anti-business or spoiling a big sporting opportunity for Kerala.

IPL had been planted in Kerala with vested interest, says CPM state committee member and DYFI national president P Sreeramakrishnan. The DYFI (Democratic Youth Federation of India) does not think that IPL team for Kochi was meant to promote our sports. Tharoor has to make it clear whether as a minister his priority is bringing businessmen for IPL or not. We do not agree with his stand on the issue; the IPL culture is not suitable for the sporting sector.

Adds senior CPI leader Panniyan Raveendran,who calls himself a fan of the game: Cricket lovers do not have any expectation that the Kochi IPL would open avenues for home-grown players. It has got marred in politics.

Even T Ranganathan,who is a coach with the BCCI,expresses surprise at the fact that Vivek Venugopal,a young businessman from Kerala hitherto known only as the director of the Elite group,that is involved in food processing,real estate and construction,had just 1 per cent stake in the team.

We all thought that Vivek Venugopal would be a major stake holder. We thought this until Modi sent the tweet, says Ranganathan.

The cricketing community hopes that the state doesnt end up paying the price for the mess the franchise finds itself in. This controversy should not have happened,but we hope this will not affect the prospects of the IPL Kochi team, says T C Mathew,Secretary,Kerala Cricket Association.