The election to Andhra Pradesh Olympic Association (APOA) is all set to witness fireworks as it is not going to be a unanimous one. The voters list will be finalised at the executive committee meeting on March 22 and the elections are slated in April 19. All key posts are likely to witness contests.
With Andhra Pradesh Athletics Association (APAA) secretary Akula Raghavendra announcing his candidature for the post of general secretary against senior sports administrator K.P. Rao, the sports politics in the 13-distircts of the new State, like the coastal weather, is hotting up.
“We want change. So far the sports administration has always been under ‘one man’ and everything was happening according to his ‘whims and fancies’. We want to bring in fresh blood with new thoughts for promotion of sports and games in the new State,” said Mr. Raghavendra, who successfully staged the junior National athletic meet in Vijayawada last year.
He also challenged Mr. K. P. Rao for an open debate and promised to get all the eligibility clearances according to High Court directive before the elections. “As an employee of Indian Railways I will get prior permission from the authorities and will seek legal course for the cases filed against me,” Mr. Raghavendra added. He also said that those associations, which pledged their support to Mr. K.P Rao, were in touch with him and the election would witness frantic cross voting. “We have come out with a 24-point agenda and topping the list is the construction of a state-of-art Olympic Bhavan in Vijayawada for which a corporate company has already given its consent.” He said a ‘harassment grievances cell’ will be set up redress the complaints of various stakeholders of sports and games.
“We will revive the CM Cup and issue identity cards to the all eligible sportspersons. We will strive for concessions to sportspersons in all modes of travel and implementation of the physical education as a compulsory subject in schools” Badminton administrator Pattabhi Ram said that sixty per cent of the voters were backing the much-desired change in APOA functioning.
Weightlifting administrator Damodar and Sepak Takraw administrator Arja Panduranga Rao and others were present in the meeting, offering their support.
We have come out with a 24-point agenda and topping the list is the construction of a state-of-art Olympic Bhavan in Vijayawada
Akula Raghavendra
APAA secretary
