The power game has begun. The bugle has been sounded and the rapiers are out. Allegations and verbal volleys are being lobbed. In the end, it’s the image of the IOA that’s getting sullied.
But who bothers?
The tussle between the president of the Indian Olympic Association N Ramachandran and secretary general Rajeev Mehta is out in the open. Days after the IOA president called for an Executive Council meeting on November 9, the secretary general sent out a letter calling for emergent EC meeting, but on November 7.
The meet was called after 19 of 27 EC members met in New Delhi on Friday. It is learnt some of the present and past top sports administrators were present.
The president is saying that according to IOA constitution only he has the right to call for a meeting, Mehta and Co believe that if the secretary has the mandate of the members, he too can call for the meeting. The two top officials of the IOA were not in agreement over the next Annual General Meeting (AGM) and the candidate for the president’s post.
There are 10 agendas listed for the meeting on November 7. The meeting will discuss “regarding requisition notice already served to the president, IOA by approximately 70 per cent of the members”. One of them is to discuss the actions of “the president, IOA which have brought down the image of IOA”.
Mehta told Express that since 19 of the 27 members asked for the meeting on Nov 7, he couldn’t have avoided to request. “When so many members call for a meeting I can’t stop it.”
He was also not happy that the president did not accede to the demand of 70 per cent members of the IOA who wanted a requisition meeting. A meeting of Ramachandran’s supporters were held over dinner called by former IOA president Abhay Singh Chautala at Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA)on Thursday.
It is learnt there were around seven to eight EC members were present. There are hectic parleys on for the posts of the treasurer of the body.
It was in September (around 27/28) when, at a meeting in New Delhi between the president’s rival faction, the idea of a requisition meeting was decided. The SGM, according to them, was necessitated because the term of the president and the current Office Bearers (OB) was over in March. And Ramachandran should have called for elections.
The requisition for the SGM was however not considered by the IOA saying not enough members have signed the list. Interestingly, the list was handed over to the secretary who felt everything was in order for the president to call for an SGM. “I felt the president should have called for the meeting,” Mehta further added.
Without SGM, Batra may not qualify as a presidential candidate. The IOA constitution (as it currently stands) doesn’t allow a person who is not part of the executive board to contest the elections.
The way things stand right now, the secretary seems to be enjoying the support of bigwigs like Narinder Batra, former IOA secretary generals Lalit Bhanot, Randhir Singh, vice-president RK Anand while the president has the support of former IOA president Chautala, former AITA president and treasurer Anil Khanna, senior vice president Virender Nanavati. Knowing IOA, the dynamics can change fast depending on whose favour the balance is tilted towards
indraneel.das@newindianexpress.com