Hockey India (HI) has promised to solve the affiliation riddle by Tuesday. The promise was made to the Sports Ministry officials who spoke about complaints from some state units being denied affiliation. HI’s five-member affiliation subcommittee is scheduled to meet in New Delhi on Tuesday to take a final decision on affiliation to six states including Punjab, Delhi, Kerala and Mumbai.

SK Mendiratta, the ministry-appointed observer for the January 29 elections, said he will wait for the ‘contentious issues’ to be solved by Tuesday before submitting a report to the ministry on the affiliation process. He has also issued a set of instructions to HI about the election procedure.

“They are still in the process of giving affiliation. There are definitely 4-5 very contentious issues and Hockey India has promised to settle those by tomorrow (Tuesday),” Mendiratta told HT from New Delhi on Monday.

Mendiratta has asked HI to release by Sunday a list of authorised representatives of each affiliated unit which will form the electoral college. He has asked for the list to be circulated among the member units and also make it public.

“I have advised them not to complete the entire election process in one day. There should be a day’s gap between submission of nomination and voting. Then only can the elections be fair and transparent,” said Mendiratta.

“If I am not satisfied with the process and the contentious issues remain, I will send my recommendation to the ministry which will take a call on Hockey India,” Mendiratta said.