Jharkhand Association Seeks No-Confidence Motion Against IOA Chief N. Ramachandran

Jharkhand Olympic Association has joined Hockey India and Bowling Federation of India in demanding a No-Confidence Motion against incumbent IOA president N Ramachandran by calling a Special General Body Meeting.

Acting General Secretary of JOA, Shivendra Dubey has written a letter to IOA informing that his association wants a No Confidence Motion being taken up against Ramachandran.

"In view of present working style of Mr N Ramachandran (IOA President), the Jharkhand Olympic Association demands a No Confidence Motion against him," Dubey said in the letter.

JOA's letter came a few days after Hockey India and Bowling Federation of India shot off letters to the IOA to move a No Confidence Motion against Ramachandran and to call a Special GBM to vote on the issue.

There are also indications that Tripura Olympic Association could join these National Sports Federations and state Olympic associations in demanding a No Confidence Motion against Ramachandran.

But when contacted Tripura Olympic Association Secretary General Rupak Debroy said that his association is yet to make an official demand on the issue.

"We have not sent an official letter yet in that regard," Debroy told PTI when asked if his association has sent a letter demanding a No Confidence Motion against Ramachandran.

According to the 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 the 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.

The infighting among the top brass of the IOA, which came out of a 14-month suspension only last year, got exposed just days after International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach's first visit to the country after taking over as IOC chief in 2013.

In his one-day whirlwind visit on April 27, Bach had called for unity among the IOA members so that they can work together for the betterment of Indian sports and sportspersons. He has also laid to rest the speculation that India may bid for 2024 Olympic Games.

Discontent against Ramachandran had been brewing for quite some time now with many members feeling that the IOA chief was running the show all by himself without consulting other officials.

Ramachandran's move to keep IOA office bearers, including secretary general Rajiv Mehta, in the dark before he visited Bach in Lausanne, Switzerland, along with sports secretary Ajit Sharan also did not go down well with some members.