The tussle for power between the Indian Olympic Association president N Ramachandran and secretary general Rajeev Mehta has taken another twist. A couple of days after the secretary general sent out a letter calling for an emergent meeting, the president replied saying that his letter is beyond what the constitution validates.
Ramachandran, in a letter to the executive council (EC) members, said it is only he who could direct the secretary general to convene a meeting. Otherwise, the secretary general on his own cannot call for an EC meeting. “I am going by the IOA constitution and I am sure I will have the quorum when I meet on November 9,” said Ramachandran. “Date and venue are decided by the president.”
Mehta, however, said whatever he was doing has been mandated by the EC. “I am an elected member of the house and I represent the members and if they want a meeting I cannot deny,” he told Express on Monday. “IOA is a registered society.”
Mehta was, in fact, asking who would set the agenda for the meeting if the president calls one.
“I am running the organisation, people come to me to discuss issues. The president on his own cannot decide the agenda. I need to be consulted on this because I am running day-to-day affairs of the organisation.
“Nineteen out of 27 EC members have given me in writing to call for a meeting and the number will rise in a day or two to 23. I cannot ignore them all the time,” Mehta said. “Calling meetings is not in the hand of the secretary general or the president. If the house desires, it has to be called.”
Mehta also said his relationship with the president is very cordial.
“Personally I have nothing against the president. We share a very good working relationship. We have no differences and are working for the IOA. Whatever agenda I have set is not mine. It’s what the house wants.”
Ramachandran and Mehta, however, shared one common view that whatever it may be, image of the IOA should not sullied. Mehta, in fact, said he would not let this affect IOA’s ties with the International Olympic Council.
“I know I cannot afford to tarnish the image of the IOA. And I will not. We also don’t want to antagonise the IOC.”
The way things stand now, there seems to be no compromise formula as yet. Top administrators, however, believe what the secretary has done is according to the rule.
“If majority of the EC members call for a meeting, then he can go ahead,” said an administrator. “Where is it written that the president can call a meeting without the consent of the secretary?”
The IOA is a divided house. One faction, including Mehta, is supporting Narinder Batra as the presidential candidate and the former as secretary general. And the other wants Ramachandran as president for a year with Anil Khanna as senior vice-president. It needs to be seen how things work out for both factions.
Going by history, it’s across the table most differences are sorted out in IOA. This time too some are hopeful. Until the opportune moment, nothing can be certain in these parleying times.
indraneel.das@newindianexpress.com