Former athlete Ashwini Nachappa sends directive on AFI elections
Nachappa has demanded that Adille Sumariwalla, AFI president, postpone the elections and direct the Karnataka Athletics Association and other states, who have not held elections, to do so immediately and "ensure AFI electoral college is represented by legal representatives of State Units of AFI."
In a memorandum to the Athletics Federation of India, former sprint champion Ashwini Nachappa has demanded that no representatives of states, whose elections are due, be allowed to take part in the AFI's upcoming elections later this month.
Attaching a copy of the letter addressed to the Karnataka Athletics Association, Nachappa, who heads the Bangalore Urban District Athletic Association, has questioned how president G Parameshwara and secretary Satyanarayana could represent the state body in the AFI's AGM and elections, scheduled on April 13 and 14, as their terms had expired.
She has demanded that Adille Sumariwalla, AFI president, postpone the elections and direct the Karnataka Athletics Association and other states, who have not held elections, to do so immediately and "ensure AFI electoral college is represented by legal representatives of State Units of AFI."
Nachappa, who is also part of the 'Clean Sports India' initiative, has sent a copy of her letter to Sumariwalla, Parameshwara and Sports Minister Jitendra Singh.
"The letter to the KAA president is self explanatory and request you to ensure that States whose elections are due and not held should not be allowed to participate in the elections of the AFI in any manner.
"Being a former sportsperson, I hope you will agree that the time has come to bring about accountability, good governance and transparency in all areas of functioning of our sports bodies," 1988 Seoul Games participant Nachappa has added in her address to 1980 Moscow Olympian and former eight-time national men's sprint champion Sumariwalla while attaching her letter to Parameshwara.
"You are also aware as on 22nd October 2012, you and other office bearers cease to exist as your elected term expires. Hence it is illegal for you and Honorary Secretary to be listed as voters of Electoral College of Athletic Federation of India," she said in her letter to Parameshwara.
"Keeping the above facts in mind, please inform us as to how Mr Satyanarayana and yourself nominated as representatives of Karnataka to participate in the forthcoming elections is valid and why this act must not be viewed seriously especially at a time when more accountability and transparency is called for of Indian sports federations, National and State," she added.