All India Chess Federation splits

The sorry state of affairs of sport bodies in the country showed its ugly face once again on Saturday with a vertical split in the All India Chess Federation and rival factions claiming to be the actual body.

With allegations flying thick and fast, ambiguity was the order of the day but one thing could not be contended -- the game had taken a beating and politics centrestage.

The Annual General Meeting, scheduled for Saturday, never took place, asserted AICF preisent Druv Sawhney while Dheeraj Raghuvanshi, heading the rival faction, claimed elections were held and appointments duly made.

"The AGM could not take place. There was no quorum hence there is no question of elections. It is most unfortunate, but disruptions of the kind I have never seen before made it impossible to carry on with the meeting," Sawhney told reporters in Delhi.

Sawhney alleged he could not determine the quorum as many unauthorised members were present during the meeting and he was not allowed to speak as the rival leader spoke simultaneously on a microphone, resulting in ruckus and disorder.

Sawhney admitted there were certain issues which needed to be "re-adressed and that would be done at another AGM to be called soon".

"We have got several complaints including the issues of appointing of returning officer, publishing of the voters' list and scrutiny of nominees and we want to address these after referring to the General Council," he said.