Chautala out, former IAS officer in fray for TTFI top post

With the jailed Ajay Singh Chautala on his way out after completing three terms, former Indian Administrative Service officer PC Chaturvedi is tipped to become the new president of the Table Tennis Federation of India when the body holds its Annual General Meeting on March 17.

Chaturvedi, who is working as the senior vice president with the federation, will take over from Chautala, who is currently lodged in jail following his conviction in a teachers recruitment scam in Haryana. "We have received a nomination for the post of the president from P C Chaturvedi. The AGM will be held on March 17 in Lucknow," said TTFI general secretary Dhanraj Choudhary said.

The TTFI, in a special body meeting called in January, had amended its constitution by incorporating the provisions with regard to age and tenure as given in the National Sports Code.

"The elections will be held under the new guidelines prescribed in the sports code, he said. Four days ago, the TTFI had received a letter from the sports ministry asking for the removal of Chautala from the body which was going into elections in 10 days' time.

Chautala had already decided not to fight for the top post after completing his three terms (of four years each) since being appointed in 2001. The agenda for the body will be to finalise the competition and training calendar for the players apart from the organisation of the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship which will be held New Delhi in May.