Rockybul Hussain. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Aug. 20: A few days before the annual general meeting of the Assam Olympic Association (AOA), a new development in the election for the general secretary’s post has left at least six aspirants high and dry.

Confident of being elected president of the Assam Athletics Association, forest minister and AOA treasurer Rockybul Hussain has disclosed to his close aides his intention to vie for the AOA general secretary’s post.

“The forest minister will vie for the general secretary’s post unless any last minute change of mind takes place,” said one of his aides from Nagaon.

Hussain is also the president of Nowgong Sports Association. If Hussain announces his candidature for the post, scheduled to be held here on Saturday, it is likely that none of the six aspirants would contest him.

The current AOA joint secretaries Anup Choudhury, Omar Rashid and Bhumidhar Barman, Assam Handball Association secretary Gautam Choudhury and Nowgong Sports Association general secretary Pradip Hazarika are already in the race.

However, sources in the AOA feel that chief minister Tarun Gogoi, who is all set to be re-elected AOA president for a second straight term, might not approve of a minister as the general secretary amid controversies over political bigwigs joining sports politics for power and glamour without having proper knowledge of the game.

Sources added that a unanimous nomination of candidates for different posts is being worked out, which Gogoi would read out in the general meeting for ratification and acceptance. They said most of the office bearers could be Congress workers, including a few ministers close to Hussain.

Though Hussain is unlikely to face any opposition in the AOA elections, he will have to contest for the president’s post of the athletics association with incumbent president Pradip Buragohain already announcing his intention to contest the election. However, sources said Hussain is ahead of his rival.