IOA President Post – Mehta to challenge Batra: The swords are out in the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as Secretary General Rajeev Mehta will challenge current president Narendra Batra for President post. The elections in IOA for the next term will be held in December this year. Earlier it was being speculated that Kho Kho federation president Sudhanshu Mittal will challenge Batra for the post but now it has come in open that Mehta is eyeing the coveted post.
IOA President Post: Swords are out, IOA Secretary Gen Rajeev Mehta to challenge Narendra Batra for president post
IOA President Post – Mehta to challenge Batra: Speaking to the Tribune, IOA treasurer Anandeshwar Panday has confirmed the development.
“Rajeev ji (Rajeev Mehta) is the right candidate for president’s post. We have all decided to back him,” said Anandeshwar Pandey. IOA treasurer futher confirmed to the paper, the decision to front Mehta was taken in an informal dinner meeting earlier this week.
Further elaborating on the candidates for the other posts, Pandey said either he himself or Senior vice-president Anil Khanna will vie for the Secretary General post.
“It is between me and Khannaji. Either of us will stand for the post of secretary-general. We are determined to end the dictatorial way in which the IOA is being run at the moment,” he told the Tribune.
Batra took over the reign of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on December 14, 2017, along with Rajeev Mehta as the secretary-general. Soon after the election, the two friends fell out of favour, which has ultimately culminated in a battle for the president’s post.
Despite two consecutive terms in his post, Mehta can still compete for the president’s seat, with the IOA constitution having no cooling off period.
IOA President Post – Mehta to challenge Batra: As per Rule 15.7 of the Indian Olympics Association’s constitution, “No Member shall hold the post of Secretary-General or Treasurer for more than two consecutive terms or eight years, whichever is less but can contest for the post of President after completion of two terms without a cooling-off period.”
