Sports Ministry to ask IABF about Chautala's voting rights

Miffed with the manner in which the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation conducted its recent elections, the Sports Ministry will seek clarifications from the IABF on the exact role of its newly-appointed Chairman Abhay Singh Chautala.

The Ministry, it is learnt, will send a letter to IABF soon asking whether Chautala will have voting rights in the much-anticipated Indian Olympic Association polls as he is not an elected member.

The IOA elections are scheduled on November 25 in which Chautala will be squaring off against Randhir Singh for the post of President.

The IABF and the Sports Ministry have been exchanging letters over the procedure to be followed in the elections, which saw Chautala's brother-in-law and BJP Rajasthan MLA Ashok Matoria getting elected to the post of President.

The Ministry has been unhappy that its election code had not been strictly followed and had raised objections to the IABF's move to amend the constitution and create the post of Chairman, largely to accommodate Chautala.

The Sports Ministry's letter assumes importance in view of the upcoming IOA elections where the race for the top post is expected to be a close one.

Just over a week ahead of the IABF elections, the Ministry had reminded the body to adhere to its regulations and had also made known its displeasure for its move to amend the Constitution, which is said was against the spirit of good governance.

The IABF ignored the diktat and went ahead with its polls after amending the constitution. The IABF replied to the Ministry only on October 1.

"It is brought to your notice that Election of Office Bearers of Indian Amateur Boxing Federation was conducted at Patiala by Retired Justice Manmohan Singh Liberhan as Returning Officer, Ex-judge D K Sharma as Assistance returning officers. Raja K S Sidhu was present as IOA observer," Rajesh Bhandari, IABF Secretary General, said in his reply.

In the reply, IABF also mentioned the names of the newly elected president, secretary general and treasurer and its nominated chairman Abhay Singh Chautala.
It did not address any of the issues that the Ministry had raised.

The Sports Ministry then shot off another letter to IABF on October 15, asking for certain documents for granting recognition to the management of the federation.

The Ministry also asked for a copy of the minutes of the AGM held in Patiala on September 23, result of the election duly signed by returning officer and assistant returning officer, list of members who attended the AGM and list of electoral college prepared by the federation.

However, it has been more than two weeks and the IABF is yet to reply to the letter, which has prompted the Sports Ministry to shoot off another letter to the federation soon.