By Mail Today Correspondent in New Delhi
HOCKEY India is still dragging its feet in granting affiliation to Punjab in the lead- up to its election slated to be held on January 29.
Several state units have registered with Hockey India, but they don’t include Punjab and Mumbai, who have a rich history in the game.
Hockey India officials had a meeting with the sports ministry and election observer SK Mendiratta on Wednesday.
Speaking to M AIL T ODAY , Mendiratta said: “ We have now got a list of 25 units which have been affiliated with Hockey India.” However, prominent states such as Punjab, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Kerala are yet to get affiliation, he said.
Regarding Punjab, Hockey India has told the election observer, that there were still a few issues which needed to be addressed.
The contentious point is the onestate- one- body requirement imposed by Hockey India.
It says the regulation is part of its constitution and has been insisted upon by the International Hockey Federation.
As far as affiliation of the Kerala unit is concerned, Mendiratta said the High Court of the state had imposed a stay and, hence, no party can apply for affiliation as of now.
Asked about the affiliation of the Punjab and Delhi units, Mendiratta said they are still hopeful that before the election some solution would be found to ensure representation from all associations and states.
“ We will address all the issues before the election,” he said.
The men’s and women’s units of Punjab and Patiala and East Punjab States Union have already merged.
There was also resistance from some Hockey India officials over having polls through ballot. They wanted the old system of election with a ‘ show of hands’. But Hockey India finally agreed that they would follow the model of nomination, scrutiny and polling, as advocated by Mendiratta.
Despite repeated attempts, Hockey India president AK Mattoo could not be contacted.
Doubts have been expressed over the affiliation process in Maharashtra where the traditional associations of Mumbai and Vidarbha have been ignored, with Hockey India recognising a splinter group from Pune.
Similarly, a little known association has been given affiliation in Tamil Nadu. It is also learnt that Karnataka has been affiliated as they bowed to the terms of Hockey India.