Supposed to play no part in the election of the new executive committee of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), former President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh though is far from the spotlight as 18 members from the 22 state units that met him on Sunday filed their nominations before the deadline on Monday.
‘We are more than confident of winning the election. If you see the turnout, majority of people have come with us. It’s everyone’s free will. If an election happens, we are more than okay with it,’ said his son-in-law Vishal, a voting member from Bihar, on Monday evening.
It is learned that former WFI joint secretary Sanjay Singh Bablu's (UP) name has been put forward for the president's post while Hamza-Bin-Omer (Telengana), Asit Kumar Saha (West Bengal), Jai Prakash (Delhi) and Asit Kumar Saha (West Bengal) will be standing for the vice-president's post.
Darshan Lal (Chandigarh) has filed for the general secretary's post and Satya Deshwal (Uttarakhand) for treasurer.
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, his son and his son-in-law have all not filed their nominations for any post with the former WFI chief currently facing charges of sexual harassment by 6 wrestlers. He was also ineligible to content another election as he had served a maximum term of 12 years that the Sports Code allows officials to hold. His son-in-law Vishal though will have a vote in the election, with his name put forward by the Bihar Wrestling Association.
On Sunday, Brij Bhushan held a meeting in New Delhi that was attended by 22 of the 25 voting states.
'Members of 22 states were present in the meeting and they're now going to file their nomination for the elections. None of my family members will be standing in the election,' the BJP MP had said on Sunday, alluding to the meeting he held where he claimed his candidates for the WFI election were present.
Election Process
With all candidates now having submitted their nominations, by 5pm on Tuesday, 1 August the Returning Officer in-charge of the election process will display the full list of nominees, following which, on 2 August, he will display the list of ‘validly nominated candidates after scrutiny and nominations’.
Polling, if necessary, will take place on 12 August with the counting of votes and final announcement taking place the same day.
A total of 25 voting member states are part of the electoral college for the 2023 WFI elections with each state unit allowed to send two names each. It is only from this list of 50 that members can stand for elections, and vote in the 12 August polling.
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