Jharkhand, Tripura seek no-confidence motion against IOA chief

The state Olympic associations of Jharkhand and Tripura raised the issue of a no-confidence motion against incumbent Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president N. Ramachandran on Monday.

The move comes after the Olympic associations of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Nagaland asked for a Special General Body Meeting (SGBM) to be called "to set things right" within the IOA on Saturday.

"In view of the present working style of N. Ramachandran (Indian Olympic Association president), the Jharkhand Olympic Association demands a no confidence motion against him," Jharkhand Olympic Association acting general secretary Shivendra Dubey wrote in a letter addressed to IOA on Monday.

Tripura State Olympic Association secretary general Rupak Debroy echoed Dubey's sentiments and demanded an IOA general meeting to address the issue.

"Tripura State Olympic Association (TSOA) is seeking a no confidence motion against N.Ramachandran, president, IOA, as we are totally in disagreement with his working and along with it we also feel he is working towards weakening and finishing off the IOA," Debroy said in a separate letter to IOA on MOnday.

"We request you to convene a special general meeting of IOA at the earliest to discuss the no confidence motion against N.Ramachandran," Debroy added.

Earlier, Hockey India (HI) demanded a no-confidence motion against Ramachandran. HI president Narinder Batra on Thursday initiated a move for a SGBM to discuss Ramachandran's future.

Batra said he didn't endorse Ramachandran's style of functioning which he said has weakened the IOA.

The discontent within the IOA swelled during the recent visit of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach.

Members of the IOA, representatives of the National Sports Federations (NSFs) and state units were not only peeved over the "lack of protocol" towards Bach but also with the treatment meted out to them during their meeting with the IOC supremo.