Raninder Singh was re-elected as the President of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) the governing body for the sport of Shooting in India, in the General Body Elections held at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Saturday.
The General Body Election of the NRAI had representation from 59 of its members, of whom 56 voted in favour of the re-election of Raninder Singh while 3 votes were cast in favour of Shyam Singh Yadav.
Kunwar Sultan Singh was elected unopposed as the secretary general of the national shooting body while Randeep Mann has been made the treasurer.
Odisha MP Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo will continue to be the federation’s senior vice-president besides the eight VP.
Pawan Kumar Singh will remain the apex body’s joint secretary alongside Sheila Kanungo.
The NRAI decided to go ahead with the polls despite the impediments it faced after the petition filed by challenger Yadav in the Delhi High Court, followed by the sports ministry’s directive to initiate elections afresh.
Yadav is a Lok Sabha MP from UP’s Jaunpur constituency.
However, the NRAI went ahead with the elections as scheduled, as there was no stay order on it from the court.
The matter is pending with the Delhi High Court with the next date scheduled in December.
After the elections Raninder Singh said: “I am honoured and humbled that the members have reposed faith in my leadership. Together we have achieved a lot for Indian Shooting and the time has now come to take it to another level.”
“This election was not about the chair but about its basic capability to be autonomous, yet at the same time not be violative of a National Sports Code we genuinely welcome and voluntarily follow.
“Indeed, the strength the Code provides us, has and will continue to support us in presenting clarity and strength to discharge our duty to the sport and its athletes. But more importantly, not allow shadowy mentors of dubious challengers to politicize,” he added.