Wrestlers Protest: WFI Elections Set for July 6

New Delhi: The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is scheduled to hold elections on July 6, according to a statement by the returning officer, Mahesh Mittal Kumar, who is the former Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court. This announcement comes after Kumar was appointed as the returning officer by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Earlier, on June 7, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had met with protesting wrestlers and stated that the WFI elections would be conducted by June 30. However, it became evident that meeting this deadline would be challenging due to the requirement of a 21-day notice to call the Special General Meeting (SGM) of the WFI.

It has come to light that a few state bodies, which were dissolved by the WFI in the past, have expressed their desire to participate in the upcoming elections. The IOA ad-hoc panel, responsible for managing the WFI affairs, has stated that two different state bodies in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Karnataka have submitted names for inclusion in the voters list for the WFI elections. The final decision regarding their participation will be made by the returning officer.

The WFI had dissolved the state bodies in Karnataka, Haryana, and Maharashtra during its Executive Committee meeting in June 2022, citing reasons such as corruption and mismanagement.

Sports Minister Thakur had assured the wrestlers that the government would not allow any family members or associates of outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh to contest the elections. As a result, the wrestlers suspended their protests until June 15.

The electoral college for the WFI elections will consist of 50 votes, with each of the 25 affiliated units, including union territories Chandigarh and Delhi, having the right to send two representatives, each holding one vote. According to the WFI constitution, the state units can nominate only those representatives who are members of their executive bodies.

There were initial speculations that the elections would take place on July 4, following the appointment of Mahesh Mittal Kumar as the returning officer by the IOA. One of the main responsibilities of the retired judge will be to determine which rival faction within the state bodies will be allowed to participate in the polls, as reportedly, two different state bodies in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Karnataka have submitted names for inclusion in the voters list.

Another significant issue in the upcoming elections is whether family members or associates of outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh will be permitted to contest. Sports Minister Thakur assured the wrestlers that the government would prohibit any relatives of Singh from participating in the polls.

The outcome remains uncertain if eligible candidates associated with Singh decide to file their nominations for the elections. Singh's son Karan held the position of vice president in the previous WFI setup and is also associated with the UP-wrestling association, while his son-in-law Vishal Singh is the president of the Bihar Wrestling Association.

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