5-member committee to run All India Chess Federation (AICF)

Chennai: Setting up of a five-member committee to run All India Chess Federation (AICF); declaration that three officials including P.R. Venketrama Raja are no more office bearers; disaffiliation of three state chess associations are some of the decisions taken at the special/extraordinary general body meeting of the Indian chess body held on Wednesday, Chandigarh Chess Association Secretary Vipnesh Bhardwaj said.

The AICF will also send a letter to the central government requesting to conduct the elections afresh.

“For the first time in its history, a general body meeting of AICF was held using digital platform. The two-and-half hour meeting was attended by 24 out of 33 state associations. There was no technical glitch,” Bhardwaj told IANS soon after the meeting.

“I am laughing. There is no provision in AICF rules to hold a general body meeting online. The meeting is blatantly illegal and so are the decisions,” R.M. Dongre, President, Fide Zone 3.7 told IANS.

Dongre said normally the general body meeting is chaired by the President and if he is not available then a Vice President chairs the meeting. But this general body meeting was not chaired by a Vice President and hence not valid.

The AICF is split into two factions - one headed by Raja and the other by Secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan. While Bhardwaj belongs to Chauhan’s camp, Dongre belongs to Raja camp.

“The general body has decided to set up a five member committee (Bhardwaj as President, Naresh Sharma, Secretary and three members Bhavesh Patel, International Master Neeraj Mishra and Woman International Master Bhagyashree Thipsay) to take actions that are in the interests of the players,” Bhardwaj said.

The five member committee will have the powers of AICF Central Council.

According to Bhardwaj, the meeting decided to disaffiliate Bengal Chess Association (BCA), All Marathi Chess Association (AMCA) mainly on grounds of financial matters and ratify the disaffiliation of All Rajputana Chess Association (ARCA).

Bhardwaj said the general body restored the affiliation of Maharashtra Chess Association (MCA) and Rajasthan Chess Association (RCA) and decided to ask Himachal Pradesh Chess Association and Manipur Chess Association to hold elections. (IANS)

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