12 EC members write to IOC accusing IOA chief PT Usha of ‘autocracy’ | Other sports news

Usha, on her part, has already said that Iyer’s appointment was made by strictly adhering to the IOA Constitution during an EC meeting on January 5, which was captured on video, and there was no need to go back on that decision to come.

The EC members wrote to Poivey that they will re-advertise for the position of CEO of the IOA, “with the aim of appointing a suitable candidate jointly and jointly with the President within the next two months”.

“While we appreciate your understanding, we are deeply concerned by the conduct of the IOA President, whose autocratic behavior has always been deplorable, and we also regret having subjected you to such an experience, which for her has become a norm has become to undermine views and concerns. from her colleagues at every meeting or occasion.

“Her ‘My way or the Highway’ approach contradicts the democratic principles enshrined in the IOA Constitution. While we trust that you would believe that the efforts of all Council members are focused on an approach of inclusivity and consensus, while aligning views in diversity.” they said in the letter sent Friday.

Senior Vice President Ajay H Patel, Vice Presidents RajLaxmi Deo and Gagan Narang, Treasurer Sahdev Yadav, Joint Secretaries Alaknanda Ashok and Kalyan Chaubey, other Executive Council members Amitabh Sharma, Bhupender Singh Bajwa, Rohit Rajpal, Dola Banerjee, Harpal Singh and Yogeshwar Dutt signed the letter.

Chaubey and Harpal had participated online in Thursday’s EC meeting where Usha had rejected the majority members’ demand to remove Iyer.

Interestingly, both parties have different versions about Poivey’s intervention during Thursday’s EC meeting.

“We appreciate that you ultimately intervened and made it clear to the President and the entire Council that the organization must be governed democratically, with the participation, inclusivity and consensus of the entire majority Executive Council.

“We appreciate that at the end of the meeting you reiterated that decisions within the IOA should be taken by a simple majority, and that you wanted to emphasize this point to the President,” the twelve EC members wrote to Poivey.

Usha, on the other hand, had said after Thursday’s meeting that Poivey had advised the rebellious EC members to ratify Iyer’s appointment.

“In the last minute (of the meeting), Jerome told them (the EC members) that you should not do this this way, you should ratify this (Iyer’s appointment). I am saying this as I want to help you,” Usha had said.

She also said the rebel EC members had earlier this month assured Poivey that they would ratify Iyer’s appointment.

“The last time he (Jerome) came to Delhi for an OCA function, we all had an informal chat and he told me to call an EC meeting and negotiate the CEO’s salary and resolve the issue.

“At that time all these people (rebellious EC members) agreed and now they are changing their position. So he (Jerome) also wondered, ‘the last time you (EC members) had agreed to salary negotiations and now you are telling ‘the process to start over, how is that possible?'” she replied.

“I feel so sorry for him and I also said sorry to him at the end,” Usha said.

The bone of contention is the monthly salary of Rs 20 lakh for Iyer, along with other benefits.

Usha had said during Thursday’s meeting that she had offered to renegotiate Iyer’s salary, but the 12 EC members were adamant about starting the process again.

She said the latest development could jeopardize India’s chances of bidding for the 2036 Olympics.

“Only after the appointment (of the CEO) happened did the Future Host Commission agree to enter into a dialogue with us, otherwise they would not agree to that. The CEO will have to lead the negotiations, we have to show professionalism, otherwise how should we make our offer?” she asked.

“They want to restart the whole process. This could jeopardize India’s chances of bidding and hosting the 2036 Olympics. I am not going to accept this. I have told this to the IOC she had claimed.

She has already sent an email to Poivey, stating that “the alleged minutes of the meeting, jointly signed by the 10 EC members (on Thursday), are null and void”.

The rebel members had said in the ‘minutes’ that “Acting CEO Kalyan Chaubey, the Joint Secretary of the IOA, will continue to discharge his duties as per the provisions of the Constitution”.

First publication: September 28, 2024 | 8:09 PM IST