Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo Elected as New NRAI Chief Amidst Competitive Election

Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo won the NRAI presidency by defeating VK Dhall 36-21 in an election overseen by former Chief Justice Anil Dev Singh. Deo will serve a 12-month term, focusing on enhancing high-performance centres and promoting the sport. VK Dhall commended the fair election process.

Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo has been elected as the new chief of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), defeating VK Dhall by 36 votes to 21. The election took place at the Constitution Club of India on Saturday, under the supervision of Retired Chief Justice Anil Dev Singh.

Out of 67 eligible NRAI members, 57 participated in the election, which was conducted via secret ballot. Deo will serve as NRAI president for a 12-month term and outlined his primary goals immediately after the results were announced.

"It was a wonderful example of a democratic election. I am grateful to all the members for showing their support," said Deo. He emphasized his priorities, which include establishing new high-performance centres, developing programs to promote shooting and incorporating courses on governance and ethics. VK Dhall acknowledged the election's fairness, noted he raised important issues, and congratulated Deo on his victory. Deo's immediate responsibility is organizing the ISSF World Cup Final, scheduled to take place in New Delhi from October 13-18, 2024.

(With inputs from agencies.)