M.S.Unnikrishnan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 8

The election process to Hockey India (HI) took a dramatic turn today when the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports took a strong and definite stand that neither the present office-bearers of Hockey India nor any of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) officials would be allowed to contest the HI elections, scheduled to be held on January 29.

In a communication addressed to International Hockey Federation (FIH) vice-president Antonio Von Ondarza, with copies to the IOA president and secretary-general, election officer S K Mendiratta and government observers Ajit Pal Singh and Zafar Iqbal, the Ministry said “once the election process is set into motion, the present office-bearers of Hockey India should be at arms length distance from the election process and should have no role in the conduct of the elections”.

The Government fiat thus rules out any possibility of incumbent president of the ad hoc Hockey India S K Mattoo and treasurer Narinder Batra from contesting the election.

Similarly, IOA top bosses, including president Suresh Kalmadi would not be allowed to contest either. “The same (rule) would apply to IOA because the foundation board of Hockey India was constituted by IOA by invoking its extraordinary powers”, the Ministry noted. The Ministry said the Government observers’ election “will also follow the same principle and only observe the conduct of the elections”.

The denial of affiliation to Hockey Punjab and some other State associations, who had followed the HI and IOA guidelines to merge into one single unit in their respective states, had kicked up a major row, which led to the FIH seeking clarifications from HI about the election process.

The Government also made it clear that there should not be any ambiguity about the election process, and every aspect

should be clearly marked. “There should be a clear schedule marking each stage of the election, viz. last date for receipt of nominations, scrutiny of nominations, publication of list of valid nominations, withdrawal of nominations, publications of final list of valid nominations and conduct of elections”, the Ministry stated.

The Government has also directed Hockey India to finalise the composition of the electoral college “immediately and not later than January 1, 2010”. It has also asked HI president to appoint an independent returning officer “immediately”.

Thus there will be a seven-day gap between the issue of election notice and last date for receipt of nominations; one-day screening of nominations and publication of valid list of nominaitons on the same day; three days for withdrawal of candidature; one day for publication of the list of candidates and five days for holding the elections.

And the elections to all posts of the office-bearers must be held simultaneously. “The above mentioned intervals are essential to ensure a fair and transparent elections. The whole nation has the right to know about who are the voters and who are the contestants who will determine the future of this great sport in India”, the Ministry explained.

The Government asserted that the “above mentioned principles are the critical minimum principles in the eyes of the Government for giving the country a credible body at the national level for the promotion and development of hockey in India, which is also popularly perceived as the national game (of the country)”.

The Ministry has requested Antonio Ondarza to “come to Delhi for a few days” to see the election process for himself. The Ministry has also directed Hockey India to complete the affiliation of State units to the apex body at the “earliest”.