JOIN USIndian Olympic Association (IOA) president N Ramachandran has assured all the state units that their voting rights will not be taken away even as the momentum to oust him, led by Hockey India chief and IOA associate vice-president Narinder Batra, gathers steam.
Ramachandran in a letter to IOA members, dated May 20, tried to allay the fears on the voting rights. The rule in IOA constitution of providing voting rights to State Olympic Associations has been objected to by the Sports Ministry.
Ramachadran, however, said voting rights of State Olympic Associations will not be changed.
“A deliberate smear campaign is being circulated stating that voting rights of the State Olympic Associations will be reduced/taken away. This is totally misleading and incorrect,” Ramachandran wrote.
“I wish to assure all members of the State Olympic Associations that at no point in time this was ever thought of. As you would have seen from earlier email dated April 20, the IOA has gone on appeal on the judgement of the High Court to Supreme Court,” Ramachandran wrote.
The voting rights of the State Olympic Associations as enshrined in the IOA constitution and approved by the IOC will not be changed under any circumstances. This was also highlighted by the IOC President when he addressed members of the IOA in New Delhi on April 27, 2015.
However, Batra rubbished Ramachandran’s assurances, calling it a lie in a lengthy explanation where he accused him of working with the Ministry to withdraw the voting rights of State Olympic Association and reducing the number of IOA Executive Board to 21.
He reiterated his stand of removing Ramchandran as the IOA president in order to "revive IOA". He also suggested appointment of VD Nanavati as acting president till IOA formally elects a new president besides the formation of an 11-member committee in IOA.