New Delhi: In its bid to return to the Olympic fold after 14
months of suspension, the much maligned Indian Olympic Association
(IOA) will hold its highly awaited elections on Sunday with BCCI chief N
Srinivasan’s younger brother N Ramachandran likely to be elected
unopposed as IOA’s new President. Ramachandran currently heads World
Squash Federation.
The IOA polls are being held after Abhay Singh Chautala and Lalit
Bhanot were barred from contesting on the ground that they have been
charge-framed by a court of law.
Kho Kho Federation of India president Rajeev Mehta and All India
Tennis Association chief Anil Khanna will be elected unopposed as
secretary general and treasurer respectively.
Chautala and Bhanot were elected as president and secretary general
in the IOA polls on December 5, 2012, a day after the IOC suspended
India for government interference and for allowing tainted persons in
the election process. The IOC had declared the elections "null" and
"void".
There will be elections only for vice-presidents today as nine
candidates were left in the fray for eight posts which will be conducted
in the presence of three IOC observers and a sports ministry official.
The elections, which will be conducted by a three-member election
commission of the IOA, will be preceded by a Special GBM which will make
an amendment in the constitution under the diktat of IOC so as to make
it clear that charge-framed persons would have to cease being members of
IOA besides being barred from contesting elections.
"It will be a short affair. The General Body will make a small
constitutional amendment and then straightway election will start," a
top IOA official told PTI.
The IOC had hinted recently that India could be brought back to the
Olympic fold after the IOA elections. IOC President Thomas Bach had
hinted India’s return even before the Winter Olympics which began in Sochi if the IOA held its elections before the Games.
Three Indians could not take part in the opening ceremony of the
Winter Olympics under the tri-colour due to India`s suspension by the
IOC, and the IOA had to draw flak from all quarters for bringing shame
to the country.
Clean Sports India, a movement for a corruption-free sports in the
country, also wrote a letter to the IOC questioning the inclusion of
Chautala and Bhanot in the electoral college on the ground that they
have been charge-framed by a court of law in India.
CSI said in view of several anomalies in the election process, the
polls can be challenged in a court of law later on as the IOA is a body
constituted under the Societies Registration Act.
Chautala, who cannot stand in the elections, had been authorised by
his faction to choose the candidates for various posts, including those
of president, secretary general and treasurer.
It is also learnt that some sort of a compromise was reached
between the factions led by Chautala and IOC member in India Randhir
Singh.
Randhir`s daughter Sunaina Kumari, who is currently Bowling Federation of India chief, will be one of the six joint secretaries.
Three representatives each from Indian Boxing Federation, Taekwondo
Federation of India and Fencing Association of India were barred by the
IOC from casting votes in tomorrow`s elections on the ground that these
three NSFs have been suspended by their international federations.
The decision came after the boxing world body, AIBA recommended the
IOC not to allow the IBF representatives to cast their votes.
IOC Director of NOC Relations Pere Miro, IOC Ethics Commission
member Francisco J Elizalde from Philippines and Olympic Council of Asia
Director General Husain Al Musallam will be the observers from the
world body in the elections.
Having blatantly violated the IOC`s diktats on more than one
occasion throughout last year, the IOA was finally left with no option
but to amend its constitution as per the world body`s directives
following an ultimatum that it would de-recognise India if the
"charge-framed" persons are not barred from contesting polls.
De-recognition would mean that India cannot be a part of the
Olympic Movement and the country`s sportspersons would not be allowed to
take part in any international event.
It all started 14 months ago when on December 4, 2012, the IOC
suspended the IOA for adhering to the government`s Sports Code and for
allowing tainted persons to take part in the election process.
In an act of defiance, IOA went ahead with the polls next day. The
world body refused to recognise Chautala and his team of office bearers.
The IOC later proposed a meeting with the IOA and government
representatives but maintained that the Indian body must hold its
elections solely under Olympic Charter to return to the Olympic fold.
After three postponements and controversy over the participation of
two members representing the suspended IOA, the meeting took place on
May 15 last at Lausanne, Switzerland with Sports Minister Jitendra Singh
and Beijing Olympics gold winner shooter Abhinav Bindra attending it.
The IOC issued the roadmap for India`s return to the Olympic fold,
asking IOA to amend its constitution before July 15 and elect new office
bearers by September 1 last, both under the supervision of the world
body.
On August 15 last year, IOC stated that tainted persons will no longer be eligible to contest IOA elections.
But, a defiant IOA refused to implement the provision, saying that it had to follow the law of the land.
The IOA even proposed to dilute the contentious clause, saying the chargesheet clause must apply only to convicted persons.
But the IOC shot down any compromise formula and asked the IOA to
sack "charge-framed" officials through constitutional amendments by
October 31 and conduct fresh elections by December 15 last.
The IOC later agreed to IOA`s proposal to hold elections on
February 9 after IOA agreed to bar charge-framed persons from contesting
the polls.
Essex:
The 26-year-old british woman decided to slice off her skin with a
scalpel on which she had got a permanent tattoo of her borfriend's name
after she came to know that he was cheating on her. Torz Reynolds from
Colchester in Essex was in a relation with Stuart Chopper. Stuart told
her that he is going to move to Alaska for a new job while he was just
staying at his home in Tiptree in Essex. He broke up with Torez while he
told her about moving away. Torez told to Daily Star that Stuart was at
his home only with a new lady. She was heartbroken.
Wrecking
Ball singer Miley Cyrus has again shown her unexpected side in a
magazine shoot. The 21-year-old singer has surprised all by going
completely naked for the March issue of W magazine.
Kareena Kapoor is in love with chocolates which makes her world go round.