2 more officials appointed for Chandigarh Olympic Association poll

The Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner appointed IAS rank official, on the direction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, has further assigned two DANICS (Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Civil Services) cadre officials to conduct the elections of the controversial Chandigarh Olympic Association (COA).

This year, in January, the court of Justice Kuldeep Tiwari had ordered fresh election to the association and directed the Chandigarh DC to appoint an ‘administrator’ for the same. After almost a month, Chandigarh DC Nishant Kumar Yadav appointed Hari Kallikkat for the task. And, after two months of his appointment, ‘administrator’ Kallikkat has now assigned two DANICS officers — Khushpreet Kaur and Amit — for carrying forward the work of conducting the elections.

Both officers have been assigned specific duties. While Khushpreet is tasked with preparing the electoral roll for conducting the COA elections as per the rules and regulations of National Sports Code, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and instructions of Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Amit has been given the responsibility of the returning officer for conducting the elections.As of now the date of the elections is ascertain, but the COA continues to be the bone of contention among the factions.

In March, the Chandigarh Sports Council had invited associations for a meeting to discuss the election-related process under the chairmanship of Kallikkat. High drama amid serious allegations and counter-allegations hogged the limelight in that meeting and Kallikkat asked all associations to post their grievances at a designated email address.

Controversy

Hearing a 2021 writ petition filed by former COA secretary Raghumit Singh Sodhi and on the account of an application filed by 24 members of the COA, the court had ordered fresh election of the association. The order also mentioned the appointment of an ‘administrator’ for conducting the election. Sources claimed, top officials of the sports bodies involved in the COA has been running pillar to post in order to put pressure on the ‘administrator’ to grab a favour. However, nothing has come on record, so far. In the past, the COA remained in limelight more for its power grabbing approach, rather than promoting the sports. Every elected house of the COA had been marred by controversies. In 2021, two factions of the COA were at loggerheads due to their claims over the association. And, two parallel elections were conducted and the IOA had appointed same observer for both elections. Later, the newly elected house further split and the problem deepened further.

How ‘authentic’ will be the electoral roll

While the COA remained in controversies in all these years, especially over ‘authenticity’ of valid and invalid affiliation of sports associations and their voting rights, the ‘administrator’ and his appointed two officials will be under the lens over approving the ‘authentic’ electoral roll for the clean and clear elections — a tough task ahead.