IOA President N. Ramachandran Gets Abhay Singh Chautala, Lalit Bhanot Support

A National Sports Federation chief has demanded calling off the Special General Body Meeting of Indian Olympic Association to bring a No Confidence Motion against its president N. Ramachandran even as some officials claimed that the move has reached a dead end.

Hockey India president Narinder Batra said that more than 50 per cent of NSFs and state Olympic units have supported the move spearheaded by him and so a special requisition meeting of the General Body should be called at the earliest.

However, it is learnt that in an informal meeting of some IOA members late last month, former president Abhay Singh Chautala and ex-secretary general Lalit Bhanot had told them not to join in the move initiated by Batra.

"The matter has reached a dead end. The IOA members have been told in an informal meeting last month by Chautala and Bhanot not to take part in the move (to oust Ramachandran) and complicate matters. There is nothing going to happen regarding the calling of Special General Meeting to table No Confidence Motion against Ramachandran," an IOA official told PTI.

In the e-mail circulated on Tuesday, Batra said that the Athletics Federation of India has also joined the bandwagon to oust Ramachandran and a requisition meeting should be called now as more than half of NSFs and state Olympic units have supported the move.

An AFI official, however, said that the federation had only expressed its desire to call for a meeting to sort out the issues pertaining to the working style of Ramachandran and not for removing him.

"We wanted to discuss and sort out the issues arising out of Ramachandran's working style perceived by the member units. We have not demanded a No Confidence Motion against him," an AFI official said.

Batra has claimed support of 18 NSFs (out of 36) and 18 state Olympic units (out of 35).

According to IOA constitution, a No Confidence Motion against the president, secretary general, treasurer and other executive council members can be passed if two-third majority of members are present and voting. The quorum for such a meeting will have to be three-fourths of the total strength of the IOA General Body entitled to vote.

The IOA General Body has 183 votes in total -- three each for NSFs and two each for state Olympic bodies.

A SGM may be convened at any time by IOA president or the Executive Council or on a written requisition signed by presidents and secretaries of not less than 50 per cent member units within one month from the date of receipt by the president of the said requisition.