The inside story behind this revolt is that there is a complete breakdown of relations between Ramachandran and secretary-general Rajeev Mehta. The Tamil Nadu strongman doesn't consult Mehta on important issues.
Barely 24 hours after International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach left the country, news emerged that Indian Olympic Association (IOA) N Ramachandran was on his way out.
If sources are to be believed, Lalit Bhanot — of Commonwealth Games infamy— and Abhay Singh Chautala — no less corrupt — also have almost finalised a plot to bring in a no-confidence motion against Ramachandran by calling a special general body meeting at the earliest.
Even IOC president Bach was aware of such a move. And when he was asked to react on Monday, he simply smiled and said, "I am not aware of this kind of movement. It would not be new for India. This is why, without knowing, I was sending this message and appealing for unity in the IOA. Our appeal to the IOA and NSFs (national sports federations) is to focus on the athletes. Make your athletes successful. IOA needs to find unity."
The inside story behind this revolt is that there is a complete breakdown of relations between Ramachandran and secretary-general Rajeev Mehta. The Tamil Nadu strongman doesn't consult Mehta on important issues.
This was the reason why Mehta did not accompany Ramachandran at Bach's official press conference during his stay in the Capital. dna has reliably learnt that Mehta remained confined to his suite in the five star hotel and left before the media briefing concluded.
It was only a year and few months ago that IOA was reinstated into the Olympic fold following its 14-month suspension by the IOC. And any further wrangling amongst IOA office-bearers would surely invite trouble from the international body.
It was quite evident during Bach's trip that a majority of the IOA executive committee members felt that Ramachandran did not allow them to communicate with the IOC president. Instead, he ran a one-man show. Ramachandran's detractors always blame him for this.
The situation worsened when Ramachandran took a unilateral decision to meet Bach in Lausanne last month without even discussing it with his IOA colleagues. He was accompanied by sports secretary Ajit Sharan on that trip.
Leading the charge of the disgruntled group against Ramachandran is Hockey India (HI) president Narinder Batra, who has gained the requisite signatures (two-thirds or 66 per cent of the total members) to call for a Special General Body and remove Ramachandran to elect a new president.
In fact, Batra had written to IOA members last week, asking them about their views on the style of functioning of Ramachandran and whether he was the right person to lead the organisation. Batra had also cited the conflict of interest of Ramachandran as the World Squash Federation president, a matter which is now sub-judice.
The faction has been gathering momentum to put the no-confidence motion into action on May 3, when the IOA gathers to decide on the fate of Boxing India president Sandeep Jajodia.
"Ramachandran, much like his brother N Srinivasan, believes in running the show all by himself. The IOA has 183 members and a majority of them believe that Ramachandran takes decision on his own without taking the members into confidence. It was very much evident during Bach's visit.
The majority of the members are in favour of bringing a no-confidence against Ramachandran, who has just 20-odd votes," an IOA member told dna on Tuesday.
Ramachandran, on his part, has also written to the IOA members, defending himself against the allegations levelled against him.
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