With the change of guard in the state, former IPS officer PV Rathi-led Haryana Olympic Association (HOA) has asked the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to take over the reins of the state Olympic body. But instead of reaching at a consensus on the presidential candidate, infighting in the state BJP has started to emerge.
Earlier, BJP member of Parliament from Bhiwani, Dharamvir Singh, who is also the president of the state swimming association, was almost certain to take over the reins of the HOA during the Sunday's AGM. But with BJP MLA from Radaur, Shyam Singh Rana also throwing his hat in the ring by calling a meeting in this regard at Olympic Bhawan in Panchkula on Saturday, the top state BJP leadership has told both to stay away from the HOA presidentship issue, for now.
Moreover, the government has passed the message to its employees, who are associated with sports bodies or district Olympic associations, to stay away from both meetings - Sunday's AGM called by the Rathi-led HOA and Shyam Singh's meeting that was supposed to happen on Saturday.
"In the morning, even the joint director of the sports department went to the Panchkula's district sports office to ensure that no coach goes to the meeting," said sports department official.
{{/usCountry}}"In the morning, even the joint director of the sports department went to the Panchkula's district sports office to ensure that no coach goes to the meeting," said sports department official.
{{/usCountry}}"Moreover, district sports officers (DSOs), who are the secretary generals of respective District Olympic Associations are not coming for Sunday's AGM," he added.
Keeping in the view the past examples, the ruling party in the state taking over the reins of the HOA has become a norm in Haryana.
"For the betterment of sports, it is better that the state's ruling party should have its representative at the helm of the HOA. Running the state Olympic association requires lot of money and resources and that can only be done with the help from the state government. So, I am open to hand over the reins of the HOA to anyone whom the ruling party deems fit," said PV Rathi.
On being asked who will going to take charge from him, Rathi said, "The BJP yet to reach at a consensuses on a name."