OSCA defies AICF, conducts elections

Crisis in Orissa deepened further as the State governing body of the game conducted its elections on Sunday last, defying All-India Chess Federation’s instruction not to do so before replying to a show-cause notice. The apex National body (AICF) had asked Orissa State Chess Association (OSCA) to show-cause, by February 16, as to why action would not be initiated against it on charges of miscunduct and gross irregularities. The AICF had also made it clear that conduct of annual general meeting and elections by the State unit could not be said to be free and fair before submission of a reply to the show-cause notice. But showing disregard to the National body, OSCA conducted the AGM here at the Secretariat Recreation Club where officials for all posts, except treasurer, were elected unopposed for a term of four years. According to an OSCA release, Ajay Kumar Das beat Saroj Kishore Behera 30-3 in the voting held for the post of treasurer. Continuing its controversial rule, the State body did not allow people other than 26 life members and 22 general members to contest the elections. Even officials of the affilited district units were not allowed to contest for any post other than the executive committee members. The election thus turned out to be reshuffling of posts among same set of life and general members. But by doing so, the OSCA has openly challenged the National body to initiate action against it. Now it is AICF’s turn to make the next move and a decisive one perhaps. Earlier, the National body became involved in the State affairs after being made party to a writ petition filed in the Orissa High Court by Cuttack District Chess Association secretary Bibek Kumar Tibarewal. The petitioner requested the High Court to direct AICF to thoroughly probe the allegations against OSCA and submit a report on the functioning of the State body. Accordingly, the AICF constituted a four-member committee, comprising National Federation secretary D V Sundar, vice-presidents A Narasimha Reddy, A Bhaktchalam and Arjun Awardee Manuel Aaron to look into the matter. But OSCA refused to respond to the clarifications sought by the enquiry committee, including address and phone numbers of all members having voting rights. Meanwhile, submitting its report, the enquiry committe has not only confirmed the irregularities in functioning of OSCA, but has also recommended the appointment of an ad hoc committee for proper administration of the game in the State. Denial of right to district representatives to contest for offiece-bearers’ posts of OSCA excepting executive members, denying affiliation to other than four district units, not supporting AICF’s directions to organise the National Team Championship at Cuttack and not providing information to members are the major discrepancies the AICF Committee has found during its inquiry. New OSCA body: President: S Srinivasan: Working president: Jayant Kumar Hota: Vice-presidents: Arati Bijoy Mohanty, Bimal Prasad Mohanty: Secretary: Smruti Ranjan Das: Joint-secretaries: Bassidhar Bhoi, Sitendu Rajaguru, Rama Narayan Gochhikar: Treasurer: Ajoy Kumar Das: Games Director: Debasis Panigrahi: Executive members: Manas Ranjan Parida, Mrutunjay Patra, Surendra Nath Mohanty, Laxmi Prasad Pattnaik.