Let election decide, no compromise with AICF chief faction: Secy

The question of compromise between the two factions in the All India Chess Federation (AICF) does not arise and the issue will be settled in an electoral showdown, said a senior official, the leader of one of the factions.

The AICF is split into two factions -- one under its President PR Venketrama Raja and the other under its Secretary Bharat Singh Chauhan.

"There is no question of compromise. Let the issue get settled by elections. The elections should be held under the supervision of a retired Supreme Court judge or an administrator," Chauhan said.

"We also want early elections. But the election should not be held in Chennai," he added.

On December 14, at an urgent meeting of the AICF general body called by Raja, it was decided to hold another such meeting on December 28 in Bhopal in the presence of a central government observer and also called for elections on February 10 at Chennai.

The meeting was held despite a direction from the central government on December 13 to cancel the same failing which the AICF may face suspension/derecognition.

The December 14 meeting held by the Raja faction also decided to set up a four-member committee comprising RM Dongre, FIDE Zone President 3.7 (FIDE is global chess body), Bharat Singh Chauhan, AICF Secretary, Kishor M Bandekar, AICF Treasurer and Kapil Saxena, Secretary, Madhya Pradesh Chess Association.

The committee was formed to assist Raja in managing the February 10 elections.

Chauhan rejects the committee as all other three members belong to the faction led by Raja.

Meanwhile, Chauhan said the special meeting of AICF general body called by him on December 22 will be held as scheduled with an observer from the central government in attendance.

The agenda listed by Chauhan in the notice of the general body called by him includes exploring the possibilities of early elections in the AICF; discuss and decide on the mala fide show cause notice issued by Raja to Chauhan; discuss and decide about the letter from Sports Authority of India (SAI) and to adopt chess in school projects as proposed by Chauhan.