All India Chess Federation ignores Ministry suggestion, holds General Body Meeting

In one of the important decisions taken at the meeting, AICF has decided to advance organisational elections to February instead of May/June, 2020.

AICF president P. R. Venketrama Raja (in picture) and secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan have been at loggerheads over various issues.

Ignoring the Sports Ministry’s suggestion that its urgent General Body Meeting be cancelled, the All India Chess Federation (AICF) went ahead with the GBM, here, on Saturday.

In one of the important decisions taken at the meeting, called by president P.R. Venketrama Raja, AICF has decided to advance organisational elections to February 10, from May/June, 2020.

It was also decided not to discuss the charges of financial irregularities during the National sub-junior tournament against the Bengal Chess Association. This was done so that the issue could be taken up in the presence of the Sports Ministry’s observer at the GBM in Bhopal on December 28.

It was also decided to form a four-member committee comprising AICF secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan, treasurer Kishor Bandekar, Madhya Pradesh secretary Kapil Saxena and FIDE Zone 3.7 president Ravindra Dongre, to assist the president in the election process on February 10.

It is learnt that representatives of 17 associations participated in Saturday’s meeting.