New Delhi: Twelve years after the controversial president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh occupied the presidential post, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), which hit headlines over sexual harassment allegations against the BJP MP, is set to go to polls today. Sanjay Singh, who is said to be close to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anita Sheoran are contesting for the president’s post.
Other posts to be filled up are for a senior vice-president, four vice presidents, a secretary-general, a treasurer, two joint secretaries and five executive members. The newly appointed Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and a former wrestler, Mohan Yadav is one of the candidates for the vice-president post.
Notably, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh occupied the top post for 12 years. The BJP MP from Kaiserganj had to step aside after the country’s top wrestlers led a protest, accusing him of sexually harassing women wrestlers.
Ace wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat, who led the agitation, had been promised that none of Brij Bhushan Singh’s family members or aides would be allowed to contest the elections. So, Brij Bhushan’s son Prateek and son-in-law Vishal Singh did not enter the race, but his aide Sanjay Singh’s nomination was cleared. Sheoran, on the other hand, is backed by wrestlers who participated in the protest against the long-time WFI president.
Sanjay Singh and his associates say they have the support of wrestling federations from most states and are confident of a victory. The wrestling fraternity, he said, knows who worked for the betterment of sports and will keep it in mind while casting their vote. “I am winning his election,” he told NDTV.
The process for the WFI election began in July, but court cases kept delaying it. This led to the international wrestling body suspending WFI. The Supreme Court recently set aside a stay imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, clearing the decks for the polls.
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