Calcutta: Going forward, Arun Jaitley's views will almost surely matter the most if Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Jagmohan Dalmiya's post-illness recovery unfortunately happens to slacken.

Of course, right now, Dalmiya's future in the BCCI is a very touchy subject, with this being a particularly sensitive time for his family.

However, this is also a moment when what's best for the 75-year-old needs to be addressed sans any agenda.

Jaitley, who holds multiple portfolios in Narendra Modi's government, is overseas till Monday night/Tuesday morning.

Quite a few, one learns, are waiting for Jaitley to return.

Hospitalised around 9.00pm on Thursday, "almost six hours after the onset of chest pain," Dalmiya is reported to be much better after "angiography."

The delay of nearly six hours, startling in itself, became public through a medical bulletin issued (by the BM Birla Heart Research Centre) well past 1.00am on Friday.

That almost six hours were wasted has left well-wishers aghast.

Back to Jaitley... He's no longer directly associated with the BCCI, but it's no secret that his word possibly still carries the maximum weight.

Moreover, Anurag Thakur, the BCCI secretary, is regarded as Jaitley's protege - in cricket administration, at least.

"Jaitley isn't part of the BCCI, yet he's very much there... It's an unusual reality, but his advice is bound to be taken by most of the key players," a well-placed source told The Telegraph .

It's relevant that Jaitley's unconditional support enabled Dalmiya make a dramatic comeback as the BCCI president, six months ago.

One hopes Dalmiya's recovery actually remains at the pace he used to work during his first innings as the BCCI president (2001-04), but even if that is maintained, he can hardly be burdened with big responsibilities.

The BCCI of 2015 is a lot different from what it was a decade or so ago.

Those supposed to be close to Dalmiya may think otherwise, but he deserves a break from having to deal with men in the BCCI who have competing interests.

There's much distrust in the air.

Then, Dalmiya could do without regular briefings on the status of litigation involving the BCCI on different matters. Today, he only needs to worry about his health.

But, yes, Dalmiya's own take on the health front and on shouldering responsibilities may be rather different.

It's not confirmed, but one gathers that from Sharad Pawar to Narayanswami Srinivasan and from Rajeev Shukla to Thakur, there was "genuine concern" over the state of Dalmiya's health in the lead-up to the BCCI's working committee meeting here, which had to be adjourned sine die three weeks ago.

The big question then was: What to do?

Perhaps, it needs to be mentioned that talk of creating the honour-bestowing post of BCCI patron and offering it to Dalmiya had been gaining ground before his hospitalisation.

Significantly, the BCCI's Memorandum and Rules and Regulations, which serves as its constitution, has no provision either for an acting president or working president.

Not even an interim president.

The clause which could come into the picture reads: "In case of vacancy occurring in the office of president by reason of death or by him being adjudged insolvent or by him being convicted in a criminal case by a competent court or by resignation or otherwise, the hon. secretary shall within 15 days convene a Special General Meeting to elect the president who shall be nominated by at least one Full Member from the Zone which proposed the name of the president whose term was cut short prematurely. Such person, who is elected, shall hold office till the next elections."

It's East's turn till the 2017 AGM.

As for who qualifies to be a BCCI president, read on:

"Past or present office-bearer nominated by at least two Full Members from the Zone whose turn is current as per the principle of zonal rotation...

"And, who must have attended two Annual General Meetings representing a Full Member."

The BCCI's Memorandum and Rules and Regulations includes the following bit as well: "It is clarified that such candidate or candidates need not be from the same Zone that is exercising its right of nomination by rotation."