The battle lines are drawn. Hockey India goes for its much-awaited polls in the Capital on Wednesday with a question mark over its legality.
Three postponements and an acrimonious run-up marked by mudslinging from both the camps later, 83-year-old administrator Vidya Stokes of Hockey Himachal Pradesh and Pargat Singh of Hockey Punjab will vie for the hot seat, the president’s post.
A day before the polls, the Delhi High Court said on Tuesday that Hockey India is a private body and held that the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) is the only recognised body for the sport in the country. Acting upon the ruling, a HI official said, “We will issue a clarification and the elections will go ahead. We don’t need any support from the government and we will function as a private body,” he added.
“The government has withdrawn its observer but FIH observer Antonio von Ondarza has already arrived for the polls,” he said. In the run-up to the polls, the talking point was the fight for the top post between interim president Stokes, who defied the government’s age limitation guidelines, and ex-India skipper Pargat.
Both parties appear confident. While Pargat, the former India captain, trusts his sporting background, his rival Stokes, a member of the Indian National Congress, leaves it to the voters.
“The game is dead and I will bring it alive as I have been a fighting defender,” said 44 year-old Pargat. Stokes, almost 40 years elder to him, pins her hopes on her supervision of the game as her trump card.
“Ask me this question after the election is over. I shall be in a better position to say what is in store,” said Stokes while talking to DNA about her plans if she wins the election. “I will leave it to the voters to decide. I will accept their verdict,” she said.
“I should be a better person on the seat than my opponent who has played the game but is not an administrator,” she said.
Pargat, too was tightlipped about his plans. “Let us talk after the eggs are hatched. It would be unfair to comment on my plans.”
Centre withdraws observer
Abiding by the Delhi High Court’s directive, the sports ministry on Tuesday withdrew its observer for Hockey India elections. As per the orders, SK Mendiratta, who was appointed as the government observer has been withdrawn. “I have been asked to stay away from the election, and I am not aware who will be the observer,” said SK Mendiratta who was to be the observer till the HC Tuesday’s order. “I was just told at about 7.15pm to stay away from the election, said Mendiratta, while talking to DNA.
