Anju Bobby George likely to be removed as Sports Council president

Thiruvananthapuram: Ace athlete Anju Bobby George is likely to be removed from the post of Kerala Sports Council president.

According to sources, the LDF government is considering the names of T.P Dasan and V. Sivankutty for the post. Dasan had earlier served as the president of the Sports Council.

Anju's brother Ajith Markose, who is now on a foreign trip, may also be removed as the Assistant Secretary (Technical).

Sources indicate that the government is also planning to amend the Kerala Sports Act in order to bring back the earlier system of election to the Sports Councils.

It was the previous UDF government that had amended the Act to do away with the election to the council. That gave the government the power to nominate presidents and vice-presidents in the Sports Councils.

Meanwhile, Anju Bobby George has written an open letter to Sports Minister E.P Jayarajan denying any wrongdoing in the Sports Council.

She has said in the letter that she has decided to reimburse Rs. 40,000, which she had earned from the government in her six month tenure as the president of the Council.

“A transparent probe should be ordered into all appointments in the sports department. I also recommend handing over all the appointment in the department to the PSC,” she said.

On Thursday, Anju had complained to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, alleging that sports minister E.P Jayarajan had verbally abused and threatened her when she called on him. The minister, however, had denied the charges against him.

“Our meeting had gone on well and Ms. George had left happily. I am not sure what she is talking about now,” he said.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also had defended the minister by saying that what Anju had complained about was Jayarajan’s objection on her availing air tickets.