It is Munda vs Rao for AAI top post

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 6

It is official, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda is up against retired IAS officer BVP Rao to become the president of the Archery Association of India (AAI).

Monday was the last date of submission of nomination forms; and, as expected, the strong contenders for all the important posts will be from the two factions, led by Munda and Rao.

The scrutiny of the nomination papers is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, where the domicile issue of Rao could be raised. Rao’s name appears as one of the two authorised representatives of the Archery Association of Assam for the January 18 election. Rao’s domicile issue crops up every time there is an election. Rao was an advisor of the Telengana Government for three years and resigned from his post only last year. Moreover, Article 16 (b) of the court-approved AAI constitution states that “…An office bearer shall be domicile citizen of India and domicile of the state whose archery association he/she represents.”

Interestingly, only those who have lived 20 years in the state, those who have valid land records or applicant’s parents or forefathers’ record of residence can claim domicile from Assam.