For a third consecutive time, the BJP’s Samir Dey was elected unopposed as president of the Odisha Olympic Association (OOA) for four more years on Tuesday when two other aspirants withdrew their papers ahead of the September 30 elections.
In fact, the Friday’s election now becomes redundant like in 2008 and in 2012 as all the 22 members of the Council, including the general secretary were elected unopposed at the behest of all-powerful Asirbad Behera.
Even though, Behera was kept away from the affairs of OOA following a nudge from Supreme Court, the Tuesday’s development once again goes on prove that he still maintains his influence in the highest sporting body of the State that owns the Barabati Stadium and provides grants to all sporting units of Odisha.
like Dey, who represents the gymnastic association of the State, MA Alam of Cuttack district athletic association was elected unopposed as the general secretary of OOA, the post which was occupied by Behera since September 2000 to till June this year when he stepped down following the Apex Court suggestion on a question of “conflict of interest” in a pending land acquisition case pertaining to Barabati stadium.
At least five had filed nomination papers for a single post of general secretary, 12 had filed for six posts of vice presidents, five aspirants were there for two posts of joint secretaries, three for a single post of treasurer and 19 were aspiring for the 11 posts of council members. But Behera picked up his candidates for all the posts asking the remaining to withdraw their papers and all of them abided by it reinforcing their support to him.