IOA election updates: In the last Delhi High Court hearing, the Indian Olympic Association was represented by two sets of lawyers, each belonging to two different factions — one belonging to IOA president Narinder Batra and the other belonging to IOA secretary Rajeev Mehta. Follow IOA election updates on InsideSport.IN
With the office-bearers tenure ending on December 14, and no elections likely on December 19, ambiguity is increasing by the day. IOA vice-president Sudhanshu Mittal has blamed president Narinder Batra for the entire mess.
IOA election updates: Vice president Sudhanshu Mittal blames president Narinder Batra for election mess
“By law, the IOA should be represented by the secretary. Narinder Batra goes there as an individual party, not as IOA,” said Sudhanshu Mittal told ANI.
Sudhanshu Mittal is also the Kho Kho Federation of India president. And he was also there in the court representing the Kho kho federation as according to him Narinder Batra does not want his federation to function autonomously.
“There are two more federations — fencing and kho kho. Kho kho was being targeted since long. Earlier also we had filed a petition that is why we intervened. Batra dissolved the Ethics Commission. He was interfering in the functioning of the federation despite the fact that in our constitution the autonomy has to be respected and he was interfering in it. We are in court because we are aggrieved by the illegal actions of Batra acting arbitrarily.” said KKFI president Sudhanshu Mittal.
IOA election updates: Vice president Sudhanshu Mittal blames president Narinder Batra for election mess
According to petitioner Rahul Mehra, the National Sports Code must be implemented in the IOA and Mittal was also of the same opinion. IOA secretary Rajeev Mehta also is in favour.
“We are in full support of the implementation of the National Sports Code including Rajeev Mehta. That is our resolution. Narinder Batra wants to do things at his convenience. He has also asked for an emergency Executive Meeting Council also on the 19th December. The term of the Executive Council ends on the 14th of December. So, how come one can take a decision on the 19th if the term ends on the 14th,” questioned Sudhanshu Mittal.
According to the IOA VP, Batra wants to misuse his powers to clip the wings of Rajeev Mehta and that is the reason why an Executive Council meeting is being called.
IOA election updates: Vice president Sudhanshu Mittal blames president Narinder Batra for election mess
”Narinder Batra is trying to do illegal things and he wants to debar the secretary and distribute his powers. The agenda of the Executive Council meeting is to debar Rajeev Mehta. Any action by any Office-bearers after 14th of December will be illegal because the term expires on December 14.”
Mittal is also confident that there is no chance the IOA will be derecognised by the IOC like what had happened back in 2014.
“The IOA will not face any de-recognition as IOC has given us time till January 31, 2022 to complete election formalities.”
IOA election updates: Vice president Sudhanshu Mittal blames president Narinder Batra for election mess
