Union Home secretary Madhukar Gupta confirmed that the government is in touch with officials of the Indian Premier League to work out a schedule for the upcoming Twenty20 tournament that does not clash with the Lok Sabha elections.
"We have sounded them about the security engagements during the Lok Sabha polls on both Eastern and Western borders. We are in the process of discussions what kind of adjustments could be made in the present IPL calendar. They said that they would come back to us," Gupta told journalists on Wednesday.
On Tuesday Home Minister Chidambaram suggested a postponement of the tournament because it clashes with the general elections.
'It will be difficult to provide paramilitary forces for 40 matches and the elections too. I don't want my forces to be strained. (Postponing the IPL) would be a better proposition,' he said.
Arun Jaitley, Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary and president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association, said eight cities are going for a one-day poll.
"Like, for example, Delhi could hold matches between the 10th of April and first of next month and the next match could be held after the 7th of May after Delhi goes to the polls," he said.
Security, he said, has become a major concern following Tuesday's terror attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore.
"Terrorism no longer remains a local issue. It has now assumed geo-political dimensions," he added.
IPL officials are likely to meet with the Home secretary on Thursday before presenting alternative dates for the tournament.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that the top brass of various security agencies have conveyed to the government that it is unadvisable to stage the IPL along with the elections.
Sources said they suggested that there should be no IPL matches days before and after polling dates in cities where the franchisees are based.
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