The visibility in New Delhi dropped alarmingly on a very gloomy Tuesday in New Delhi. The darkness outside, however, didn’t obscure the view of those who had gathered within the confines of the Olympic Bhavan during an emergent Executive Council (EC) meeting called by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) secretary general Rajeev Mehta.
In fact, almost all EC members were present and the meeting was chaired by senior vice-president Virender Nanavati, who is supposedly close to president N Ramachandran.
Ostensibly, all members struck a chord of bonhomie and agreed to attend the November 9 EC meeting called by the president in Chennai. They will consider it as an extension of the Tuesday meeting.
The members also agreed to keep the original Annual General Meeting (AGM) date as December 14. However, one thing that demanded change was the venue from Chennai to New Delhi.
“We have discussed most of the matters on the agenda and we have decided to attend the EC meeting on Thursday,” Rajeev Mehta told Express from Delhi. “We have also decided to change to the venue as desired by most of the EC members.”
There was not much drama except the presence of former IOA president Abhay Singh Chautala early in the day that caused some consternation. Besides that, any expectation of volatility was brushed aside by consensus and camaraderie.
Even treasurer Anil Khanna, who had reservations about the meeting, too was present. The twist, however, is the date of the AGM and the question, who will be the president? There were intense speculations that the dates would be altered so as to facilitate tweaking of the constitution at a Special General Meeting. If members who attended the meeting are to be believed, they would not touch the constitution as of now. This puts Narinder Batra’s candidature as the president in doubt because Batra is not a member of the EC.
The spoils of the first tussle are divided more in favour of the secretary general than the president. Now shifting of the venue will be the pivotal issue.
“It is up to the president to agree our demand,” said a senior IOA member. The president did not want to comment on this. “I will wait for the EC meeting on Thursday.”
The members also were not obscured by prejudice when they decided to not take a decision on an agenda that would discuss the removal of the president because he brought IOA’s image to disrepute. Whether they want him removed or not need to be seen. Apparently, it was Nanavati who suggested since they are meeting on Thursday why not talk about this in the president’s presence. The electoral college is more or less decided. So is the returning officer.
One thing is clear. Most of them want this to get resolved amicably without controversy. Some even have said the president should see who has the majority and should decide to step away if he doesn’t. Until Thursday, things can change any minute. It has happened over the last few days and might change again.
Indraneel.das@newindianexpress.com