SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, May 1: All Jharkhand Chess Association (AJCA) president Pradip Verma (MP) has rejected the resignation of co-ordinator cum convenor of the state selection committee Prabhat Kumar Ranjan.
AJCA general secretary Manish Kumar said that there is no dispute in the association, and the president duly rejected Prabhat Ranjan’s resignation after getting an e-mail.
Ranjan cited personal reasons for resignation
Co-ordinator Prabhat Ranjan resigned on March 15 from the AJCA president, citing personal reasons and involvement in the Lok Sabha election process.
Sources in the state chess association said Verma, after a week, when he learned about Prabhat Ranjan’s resignation, telephoned him personally and asked that he ( Verma) would not accept it on this ground and may consider it if the reason is other than his busy schedule.
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Besides his school duties, Prabhat Ranjan has been a ‘Master Trainer’ in the ongoing Lok Sabha election since March and does not get proper time to fulfil his responsibility as the coordinator.
Prabhat Ranjan has been the coordinator of the state chess association since 2016. In March, he was alleged to have tendered his resignation to the AJCA president following a heated discussion with a senior office bearer over an issue.
AJCA general secretary denies any dispute
However, the AJCA general secretary denied any dispute between officials over any issue.” All is well in the association, and all office bearers are unitedly making efforts for the progress of the game in the state and promotion of budding talent,” said Manish Kumar.
Sources said this was the second time in eight years Prabhat Ranjan had resigned from the coordinator post. In 2016, he also resigned when an ego clash between the then-general secretary Neeraj Kumar Mishra (International Master) and the then-chief executive officer (CEO) Pritam Kumar Singh (12 times state champion) intensified. However, President Verma also rejected that time at the meeting.
Adhoc committee for defunct districts soon
AJCA general secretary Manish Kumar said that to activate chess activities in districts, ad hoc committees would be formed in the districts where the election has been due for a long time. “A list of districts is being prepared where an election has been held recently and the poll is due,” he said.