BANGALORE, July 9: The badminton imbroglio took a new turn with the BAI President V K Verma offering Prakash Padukone the reins of the BAI and run it with his hand-picked team. However, the badminton maestro termed the offer as being ``vague'' and ``without authorisation''.

Though there was no invitation on the part of the IBC, Verma on his own volition had come to talk to Padukone here on Wednesday, to bring them back into the BAI fold. After a marathon meeting with Prakash, Verma said: ``I am giving Prakash a blank cheque.'' However, Prakash said that they could not take whatever Verma offered at face value as nothing was said in concrete terms and it was not given in writing.

``Even if Verma were to be believed, the fact remains whatever decision that he takes should have the sanction of other affiliated units. Was there any Extraordinary General Body Meeting held to discus the issue? How can the President arbitrarily decide to hand over the association on his own without obtaining the sanction, in a constitutional manner. What if he goes back on his words and denies everything later. The issue at present is too vague for us to jump to any conclusion.''

Prakash said that he would have to consult the other office-bearers of the IBC and the supporting associations before reacting to Verma's offer. ``Everything has to be spelt out specifically for us to even consider the issue. There are too many loopholes and lot of loose-ends to be tied. I don't know what he means by blank cheque. He cannot say that he would step down and let me run the show just like that. If he could decide the fate of BAI on his own, then he too will be guilty of being autocratic like his predecessor. I believe it is premature to say anything at this juncture. Lot of things have to fall into place.''

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.