CHANDIGARH, Nov 3: The political battle between the scions of the two Lals has spilled over to the sports arena in Haryana. Abhay Singh Chautala, son of Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, is trying to wrestle his way into Haryana Olympic Association (HOA) by displacing its president and son of former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, Chander Mohan.As it is, the fate of Chander Mohan, who was elected HOA president for a second term of four years in the HOA elections held in January last, will be decided at a special meeting requisitioned by its vice-president and a close associate of the ruling party, R.S. Malik, tomorrow (November 4). Mohan has been under attack from players and HOA members, owing allegiance to the ruling government, after Chautala assumed power in the state. These players and members have alleged that the HOA had not organised the mandatory sports festival and most of the teams were not looked after properly when they represented the state in the Nationals. The HOA, they allege, has also not kept its promise of honouring medal winners of the last Asian Games held in Bangkok.Simultaneously, five office-bearers including three vice-presidents have resigned alleging mismanagement in the sports body. "This is nothing but a blatant attempt to topple Chander Mohan because most of the disgruntled members, who have either resigned or levelled charges of mismanagement, happen to be officers working with the government. They seem to have succumbed to the pressure," countered Chander Mohan's supporter.It is learnt that the toppling bid was initiated on October 6 when some members issued a notice to the HOA secretary and president to call a special meeting. When Chander Mohan ignored the notice, Malik threaten to resign from the post of vice-president in protest and called a requisition meeting against the HOA president on November 4.Chander Mohan has described the meeting as "illegal and against the constitution". Under the HOA constitution, only the president or one-third members, who are entitled to vote, can call a special meeting of the council. With a change of government, several members have "switched loyaties" and more than one-third of the total affiliated units, have called for the meeting. According to sources, the special meeting will discuss mismanagement and if necessary reconstitute the body.Sources feel that Abhay's supporters are expected to press for reconstitution of the body and try to elect Abhay Chautala, who heads the Haryana State athletic and table tennis associations, as president. Considering that most of the members are bureaucrats working under the government, the election of Chautala junior may not be difficult. In addition, top office-bearers of sports associations affiliated to HOA also have the voting rights. "It seems like a smooth affair for Abhay Chautala," admitted a senior bureaucrat. But there is a catch here: the presence of an Indian Olympic Committee observer is mandatory if elections are to be held as all the State Olympics Association are affiliated with it. The anti-Chandra Mohan group has already sent feelers to the IOC, but it remains to be seen if the national body responds.
