The Special General Body Meeting [SGBM] of the Indian Olympic Association Thursday will finalise the electoral college and the poll process for electing its office-bearers Nov 24.
On the eve of the SGBM the battle lines were being drawn with factions led by IOA secretary-general Randhir Singh and former president of the boxing federation Abhay Chautala holding their conclaves for a head count in the Capital.
Outgoing president Suresh Kalmadi and his stand-in chief Vijay Kumar Malhotra have thrown their weight behind Haryana politician Chautala while the group headed by former IOA chief Sivanthi B. Adityan and some Congress politicians are said to be backing Randhir Singh.
The real show of strength will be when the SGBM meets to grant the affiliation to a handful of national federations like the ice hockey, ice skating and luge.
Both factions claimed majority, but it appears a sizable number of national federations still seem to be backing Kalmadi, though he has decided to quit sports administration.
‘Suresh has taken care of his support base for 16 years and most of them still swear by him,’ said a veteran sports administrator.
On the eve of the SGBM the battle lines were being drawn with factions led by IOA secretary-general Randhir Singh and former president of the boxing federation Abhay Chautala holding their conclaves for a head count in the Capital.
Outgoing president Suresh Kalmadi and his stand-in chief Vijay Kumar Malhotra have thrown their weight behind Haryana politician Chautala while the group headed by former IOA chief Sivanthi B. Adityan and some Congress politicians are said to be backing Randhir Singh.
The real show of strength will be when the SGBM meets to grant the affiliation to a handful of national federations like the ice hockey, ice skating and luge.
Both factions claimed majority, but it appears a sizable number of national federations still seem to be backing Kalmadi, though he has decided to quit sports administration.
‘Suresh has taken care of his support base for 16 years and most of them still swear by him,’ said a veteran sports administrator.