PT Usha’s Bid for Second Term Faces Uncertainty After Losing Key IOA Election
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha has encountered a major hurdle in her attempt to secure a second term after failing to win a position in the women’s Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOM) election. The result, announced on Monday, comes less than a month before the IOA’s December 5 elections.
Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal, former athlete Anju Bobby George, ex-archer Dola Banerjee and former Indian women’s hockey captain Rani Rampal won the four available positions in the women’s category. Usha and former basketball player Anitha Paul Durai were among those who missed out.
The election outcome carries considerable significance as the eight elected SOM representatives, comprising four men and four women, become members of the IOA General Assembly. They will be entitled to vote in the December 5 elections and can also contest for positions in the new Executive Council.
Usha had entered the General Assembly through the SOM category before becoming IOA president in December 2022. She made history by becoming the first woman to head the country’s Olympic governing body.
Her latest defeat has complicated her path towards another presidential term. Since she failed to secure a place through the SOM route, Usha would need a nomination from a National Sports Federation (NSF) to enter the General Assembly and remain eligible for the presidential election. According to PTI, this alternative route is considered unlikely.
The upcoming election will decide the IOA’s leadership for the 2026-30 term. The women’s SOM voting was conducted online, with 80 existing members, including 40 men and 40 women, eligible to participate.
Usha Raises Objection Over Alleged WhatsApp Campaign
The election results came a day after Usha filed a formal complaint with the Electoral Officer against former archer Dola Banerjee, alleging a breach of the Model Code of Conduct.
The complaint centred on a WhatsApp message circulated through an account bearing Banerjee’s name. The message allegedly appealed to voters to support the ‘New Bharat Panel’, which included Banerjee, Saina Nehwal, Anju Bobby George and Rani Rampal. It reportedly mentioned the candidates’ ballot serial numbers and roll numbers.
Usha maintained that the message violated Clause 1.9 of the Model Code of Conduct, issued on October 30, which prohibits promotional campaigning through publicity platforms, including social media and other digital channels.
She also referred to provisions requiring candidates to maintain fairness and uphold dignity and mutual respect during the election campaign.
In her representation, Usha requested an inquiry into the circulation of the message, explanations from the individuals concerned and appropriate action if the alleged violation was established. A screenshot of the WhatsApp communication was also submitted with the complaint.
No publicly available ruling on the complaint had been issued before the results were announced.
Unopposed Election of Four Male SOM Representatives
The men’s SOM category concluded without a contest on Saturday, with four candidates securing election unopposed.
Olympic medallists Gagan Narang, Yogeshwar Dutt and Vijender Singh, along with former table tennis player Kamlesh Mehta, were elected after eight other candidates withdrew from the race.
The withdrawals triggered further questions about the election process. BVP Rao, former National Convener of Clean Sports India, alleged that certain candidates had withdrawn after receiving calls from the Sports Ministry. He questioned whether all contestants had been able to exercise their electoral rights independently.
However, a Sports Ministry source dismissed the allegations as baseless and maintained that the IOA election process was independent, with no interference from the ministry.
The alleged WhatsApp campaign and claims of pressure surrounding the withdrawals have added to the controversy ahead of the IOA polls. Neither set of allegations has been independently established.
With the December 5 elections approaching, the focus will now shift to the formation of the new General Assembly and the contest for the IOA’s top leadership position. The SOM results have altered the electoral landscape, leaving uncertainty over Usha’s route to another term as president.
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