New Delhi: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) elections took a new twist on Sunday as presidential candidate Randhir Singh withdrew from contesting the elections for the post of president of IOA.
Randhir handed over his withdrawal to IOA Returning Officer Justice V.K. Bali at latter’s defence colony house, leaving Abhay Singh Chautala and Raj Chopra as his cover candidate left in the contest.
"There is no point in holding the elections and creating a rift in the Olympic committee. Let's sit together with the ministry, solve the problem and then hold elections," Randhir told after his withdrawal.
"I am ready to fight the elections, I am not running away but since the situation has got so convoluted there is no sense in getting involved and creating more problems,” he added.
"As a sportsman I have represented the country with distinction and have never sought any office. When I was given the opportunity to serve sport I did my best as a sports administrator," said the IOA general secretary.
"I don't have to fight the elections to clean up this mess. I am much better off not fighting the elections because now I will fight them as a member of the IOC. I am free to do what I feel like."
Asked if low numbers in his support made him pull out of the elections, Randhir who is the only Indian representative at the International Olympic Committee (IOC), he said, “I know I have the numbers to win the election, but I would not like to enter contest in an atmosphere of hate, making personal allegations.”
"I have decided to pull out because the IOA election is likely to be held as per the Sports Code and as an IOC member I can't be a party to it when I swear by the Olympic Charter."
"All they have done is stood on a platform and criticised me, they have only played to the galleries and they think by doing this they can win the elections," he said.
"Today there is a clause in the IOA constitution which is restrictive, where outgoing executive committee members are the only ones that can fight the elections that is one of the reasons I put my name in because nobody else would fight this lot," he added.
"This clause must be removed. It should be free for everyone to participate."
By Indian Sports News Network