WFI Electoral Battle: Brij Bhushan’s Pledge of No Family Candidates, Rivals Seek to Capitalize
31-07-2023 : Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the outgoing President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), made an important announcement on Monday, asserting that no member of his family will be contesting in the upcoming elections of the national sports body. However, he reaffirmed that his group enjoys the backing of 22 state associations, signaling confidence in their prospects for the elections.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament, Brij Bhushan, revealed that 22 out of 25 state units had participated in a meeting hosted by him on the previous day. During the meeting, he promised to reveal “his candidates” for various posts for the federation elections scheduled for August 12.
On the last day of nomination for the WFI elections, Brij Bhushan visited the Indian Olympic Association office. Addressing the media, he stated that members from the 22 state associations were present at the office to meet and file their nominations. Significantly, Brij Bhushan emphasized that no one from his family would be contesting the elections. He expressed his intention to let the electoral process unfold, and whoever wins will assume their respective responsibilities.
It’s important to note that Brij Bhushan himself is ineligible to contest the elections, having completed 12 years as the head of the federation, which is the maximum period allowed as per the National Sports Code. This limitation leaves the field open for new leadership to take charge of the WFI.
Additionally, as promised by Sports Minister Anurag Thakur during a protest held at Jantar Mantar by the country’s six top wrestlers, including Olympic medalists Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Asian Games gold medalist Vinesh Phogat, no member of Brij Bhushan’s family will be part of the electoral college.
Even Vishal Singh, Brij Bhushan’s son-in-law and the President of the Bihar Wrestling Federation, who was previously considered a potential successor for the top WFI post, will not be contesting in the August 12 elections.
However, challenges may arise for Brij Bhushan’s candidates, as reports suggest that rival candidates had a parallel meeting at a different location in the national capital. Notably, the meeting reportedly saw the participation of state units from Assam, Odisha, and Himachal Pradesh.
As the election date approaches, the wrestling fraternity keenly observes the developments in the WFI, awaiting the results that will determine the future leadership of Indian wrestling.
