PT Usha, IOA’s first woman president, faces a no-confidence motion

Mumbai: PT Usha, the first woman president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), is likely to face a vote of no-confidence at the body’s Special General Meeting on October 25, The Indian Express reported.

The legendary athlete is going to face no-confidence motion less than two years after she became the president of the IOA.

It is reported citing the Executive Council’s agenda point number 26 that the meeting will consider motion against Usha ‘in light of alleged constitutional violations and actions potentially detrimental to Indian sports’.

The move against Usha takes place against the backdrop of her continuing tussle with the IOA’s Executive Council members.

Usha issued show cause notice to multiple Executive Council members over alleged violations of eligibility norms.

Meanwhile, she was accused of ‘high-handedness’.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India questioned her for allegedly giving ‘undue favours’ to Reliance regarding a contract with it for a hospitality lounge at the Paris Olympics.

Her decision allegedly incurred the IOA a loss of Rs 24 crore, which she denied.

The Special General Meeting will review IOA presidents’ power, discuss the sponsorship contracts carried out by her, appointment of a CEO and show-cause notices issued to Executive Council members including Sahdev Yadav, Ajay Patel, Bhupinder Singh Bajwa, Rajlaxmi Singh Deo and Alaknanda Ashok and also discuss the Rs 1.75 crore loan to Weightlifting Federation of India.