Kalmadi to stay away from IOA, Malhotra asked to continue

[1]

Former Commonwealth Games OC Chief Suresh Kalmadi has decided to step aside as the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President though he has not officially resigned from the post yet.

Kalmadi has sent a letter to Senior Vice President V K Malhotra asking him to continue discharging his duty as the Acting President and that he would not represent the IOA for some time.

Kalmadi, who was granted bail by the Delhi High Court on Thursday, has told Malhotra in the letter that he would not be able to represent IOA and will 'not be taking part in IOA activities for a long time'.

Meanwhile, Malhotra has informed the International Olympic Committee that Kalmadi will not be involved in IOA activities for the moment.

Malhotra has also reiterated that he was authorized to run IOA in Kalmadi's absence.

A top IOA official said Kalmadi was not in a position to be involved in day-to-day organisational matters because of the court case.

"He is not in a position to devote time for IOA at the moment. He also has to attend to his electorate in Pune since he has been away for close to nine months now. He realises that it will be a prolonged absence and has therefore asked Malhotra to continue as the Acting President", the official said.

Kalmadi had nominated the senior IOA vice president Malhotra as the Acting President before being arrested for alleged corruption in the conduct of the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

The anti-Kalmadi group in the IOA has raised questions on why he was not stepping down from the post if he was not in a position to take charge again.

"He should resign officially and pave way for someone else to become the President. He should take into account public furore and sentiments," a member of the rival faction said.

Kalmadi's presence will also add a new dimension to the IOA elections, scheduled for later this year. The IOA President was arrested by the CBI on April 25, 2011 in the Timing, Scoring and Result system scam.

Kalmadi had moved the High Court in January, seeking bail citing the Supreme Court's judgment in 2G spectrum case and said it has been held that 'bail is rule and jail is exception'.