Barred from contesting next month's Indian Olympic Association elections, suspended IOA President Abhay Singh Chautala is set to call the shots on who would be nominated from his faction for the top posts in the polls which will bring the country back to the Olympic fold after more than a year.
Chautala, who cannot stand in February 9 elections under the recent amendments of IOA constitution on the diktat of International Olympic Committee, has been authorised to choose the candidates for various posts, including those of president, secretary general and treasurer in the polls which will be held in the presence of IOC observers.
The officials of the current dispensation led by Chautala, which still seem to have the majority in the IOA, had a meeting recently at his New Delhi residence during which he was authorised to decide on who would contest elections.
"Yes, we had a meeting on Monday night at Chautala's residence and we have decided to authorise him to decide on the candidates," an official who attended the meeting told PTI.
It has been learnt that some members took the names of Indian Weightlifting Federation President Birendra Prasad Baishya and Squash Racquet Federation of India chief N Ramachandran for the post of president and Hockey India Associate vice-president Rajeev Mehta for Secretary General.
IOC Director of NOC Relations Pere Miro, IOC Ethics Commission member Francisco J Elizalde from Philippines and Olympic Council of Asia Director General Husain Al Musallam will be the observers from the world body in the GBM and the elections.
Meanwhile, the filing of nominations for various posts begin tomorrow and end on Sunday. Returning Officer (Retd) Justice S N Sapra today issued a 167-member electoral college with NSFs getting three delegates while the state Olympic bodies nominating two each.
