Rajeev Mehta to challenge Batra for IOA president’s post

Vinayak Padmadeo

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 23

So the worst kept secret about the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) election is out. Rajeev Mehta, who is currently the secretary general, will be the one challenging incumbent Narinder Batra for the post of the IOA president in the election later this year.

Senior vice-president Anil Khanna will be the candidate for the post of secretary general, while senior vice-president Sudhanshu Mittal, who many thought was in the race for Mehta’s post, is likely to continue in his current position.

The decision to front Mehta was taken in an informal dinner meeting earlier this week. The panel has already started to mobilise potential voters and has sounded the poll bugle. “Rajeevji (Rajeev Mehta) is the right candidate for president’s post. We have all decided to back him,” treasurer Anandeshwar Panday told The Tribune on Saturday.

Despite numerous attempts to reach him, Mehta was unavailable for comments. Panday, who had announced his intention of running for the post of secretary general, said the panel is yet to decide formally about who will fight for the secretary general’s post. “It is between me and Khannaji. Either of us will stand for the post of secretary general. We are determined to end the dictatorial way in which the IOA is being run at the moment,” he said.

No cooling off period

As per IOA constitution, Mehta can run for the post of president despite serving two consecutive terms as secretary general. Rule 15.7 of the IOA constitution states, “No Member shall hold the post of Secretary General or Treasurer for more than two consecutive terms or eight years, whichever is less, but can contest for the post of President after completion of two terms without a cooling off period.”

Batra took over the reign of IOA on December 14, 2017, along with Mehta as the secretary general. The falling-out between the two former friends happened almost immediately after the election.