Protests over nominations to HI electoral college

NEW DELHI/CHENNAI: Hockey India’s (HI) list of electoral college has some curious inclusions and omissions, kicking up another storm ahead of While the names of the representatives of Hockey Karnataka are missing, the footnote mentioning that no nominations were received, the former secretary-general of the All India Women’s Hockey Association (AIWHA) Amrit Bose has been left out from the Delhi nominees even though she is the secretary of the state association.

Ministry-appointed observer SK Mendiratta said that if the Karnataka association has sent their nominations and it has received the acknowledgement their names will be included.

As for Amrit Bose, he said there is nothing he could do if her name does not figure in the list submitted to him. A source close to Bose said that she was shocked to find her name missing from the list.

The source said her name was removed without her knowledge and that as secretary Hockey Delhi she has every right to attend the meeting. She was replaced by Sudarshan Pathak.

Interestingly, the president of the superseded Indian Hockey Federation KPS Gill is back in circulation and will represent Delhi at the HI General Body Meeting. He could even be in the running for presidency.

Speculation over Suresh Kalmadi becoming HI president has at last been put at rest as he will not be representing any state association to contest, though it was said he might get nominated from Maharashtra.

JB Roy, another candidate for presidency, has been nominated from Bengal. He was instrumental in getting Sahara India Pariwar release Rs 1 crore for the immediate payment to the agitating players.

The Hockey Karnataka (HK) is exercised over the omission of its representatives from the list of voters released Saturday by HI president Vidya Stokes.

Stokes, who took charge following the resignation of AK Mattoo in the wake of players’ rebellion, released a list of 64 units and its representatives.

When contacted HK secretary Kannan Krishnamurthy said from Bangalore that he was unaware of the latest development, but pointed out that it was a deliberate act of omission.

“How is it possible? We have duly complied with all the requirements as specified by the Hockey India’s election notice with regard to documentation. I am certain that this is a deliberate act to keep us out of the election process.

“I have spoken to Mendiratta and he advised me to speak to Hockey India officials. I called Mrs Stokes, but she said she was busy with a Congress party meeting and asked me to contact her tonight,” said an angry Krishnamurthy.

The HK executive committee had authorised Krishnamurthy and Kamala Srinivasan as its representatives to the electoral college.

He said the necessary documents were sent to HI by email, courier and fax, and they have been delivered. A separate fax was sent to Narendra Batra, the HI treasurer who is also handling secretarial duties, he added.

Krishnamurthy and HK president RK Shetty, will be flying to Delhi on Monday to meet Mendiratta and also HI officials.

Curiously, Krishnamurthy along with Bose and Batra were the leading contenders for Hockey India’s plum post of secretary-general.

Former India captain Pargat Singh, who is also in fray for the post of HI secretary-general, has been nominated by Hockey Punjab.

The fate of the election itself will be decided Monday when a division bench of the Delhi High Court hears the response of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on the sports ministry’s plea for replacing the returning officer.