New Delhi: Undermining the authority of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president N Ramachandran, the executive council (EC) decided Tuesday to shift the venue of the AGM from Chennai to here against his wishes besides reversing another decision taken by him.
Ramachandran did not attend the emergent executive council meeting called by secretary-general Rajeev Mehta after 19 of the 23 members of the top decision making body demanded it. In Ramachandran’s absence, senior vice-president Virendra Nanavati chaired the meeting.
Twenty-one of the 27 EC members attended Tuesday’s meeting meeting while vice-president Anurag Thakur expressed inability to attend it as he was busy with assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh.
Ramachandran has already called a meeting of executive council in Chennai, November 9. He has also called the AGM December 14 in Chennai to elect the new office bearers of the IOA, including the president and secretary- general.
“The decision taken today (Tuesday) will be ratified at the EC meeting called by the president, November 9 in Chennai,” Mehta said.
Ramachandran’s support in the council has been reduced to a few members and if sources are to be believed he can be removed from his post before or during the AGM, December 14.
“The EC decided Tuesday to hold the AGM in Delhi instead of in Chennai, December 14. We have also named the election commission and returning officer to conduct the elections December 14 during this AGM. All of them are the same as those who conducted the elections in February 2014,” vice-president Tarlochan Singh told reporters.
Asked if it is legal to hold an EC meeting on the demand of the members and not by the president, Tarlochan said, “Under the IOA Constitution, the EC can also call a meeting. If the majority of members want a meeting, the president or the secretary-general will have to call it. There is overwhelming majority, 19 out of 27 wanted this meeting and today 21 turned up,” added Tarlochan.
Chautala beats hasty retreat
Tainted former IOA president Abhay Singh Chautala showed up at the EC meeting of the IOA without any invite here Tuesday before making a hasty retreat after some members objected to his presence. Chautala barged his way into the meeting hall at the IOA Bhawan and sat for around 10 minutes. Later, one EC member GS Mander objected and requested the chair to expel non-members. IOA secretary-general Rajeev Mehta said, “We have not invited him (Chautala) for the meeting. He came on his own. He sat for around 10 minutes and after opposition from Mr Mander he left the meeting hall.”
Press Trust of India
