Nagpur, June 4
After a long tussle between them, MLC Parinay Fuke-led All Marathi Chess Association (AMCA) is all set to merge in Maharashtra Chess Association (MCA) benefiting the chess players who were earlier divided into two factions.
This development is happening after the All India Chess Federation (AICF) in its Annual General Meeting in February 2021 announced that MCA will be back as governing body after it sorted out conflicts with its rival body.A protracted legal dispute over the Pune-based Maharashtra Chess Association (MCA)'s disaffiliation by the All India Chess Federation (AICF) in 2014 finally came to a conclusion after a five-member panel in a Special General Body Meeting (SGM), decided to restore the affiliation of MCA.
Confirming the development while talking to Lokmat Times Pune-based MCA secretary Niranjan Godbole said, " Yes, we have initiated the process of merger and this is a good decision for the benefit of players. For the merger process we have formed a six committee including three members each from either side. A couple of meetings of the same committee has already taken place. We have 36 district units and have found out a solution for maximum districts. The final decision will be taken in the executive committee meeting of the association soon", he said.
When asked how will be the new executive body after the merger, Godbole said, ": We are positively thinking how the office-bearers from both the associations should be accommodated. I am sure that the process will complete without any hurdles. The chess will continue smoothly till both the bodies merge in each other", he said.
It may be mentioned here that Pune-based Siddharth Mayur is the current president of MCAwhereas GM AbhijitKunteis the senior vice president along with Pune's Anirudha Deshpande and Firodia.
The newly-appointed secretary of All Marathi Chess Association (AMCA) Dilip Page has also confirmed the development and said the merger will benefit the state players.
Talking to this newspaper he said, " The AICF had disaffiliated MCA for some reasons in 2014 and then AMCA was formed. Finally, in February 2021, AICF restored the affiliation of MCA. Since MCA has a long legacy (from 1978) we decided to merge our association in MCA".
On February28, 2021, MLC Fuke was re-elected as AMCA president in a meeting in Nagpur. He appointed Dilip Page as a secretary and gave him the responsibility to look after merger process. When asked how many office-bearers of AMCA will be accommodated in MCA Page said , "This is very trivial issue for us. Both the associations are coming together itself is a positive move . We are hardly bothered about posts.".
.NDCA secretary KK Barat has welcomed a possible merger. " This is a good move as the dispute between two factions will come to an end. The district units were the most sufferer in the tussle between two associations. Our basic aim is to develop the chess in the district and for several years we always remained confused to which body we should affiliate our unit".