WFI elections on December 21, results to be declared on same day

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been levelled with accusations of sexual harassment, is not in the fray of candidates (File image/PTI)

The elections to decide the office-bearers of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) would be held on December 21, as per an official notification issued on December 9. The results would be declared on the same day.

There are no family members of outgoing WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in fray for the president's post. The final list of candidates vying for the top office, as released in August, includes Jai Prakash from Delhi, Dushyant Sharma from Jammu & Kashmir, Anita Sheoran from Odisha and Sanjay Kumar Singh from Uttar Pradesh.

Singh is reported to be a close aide of Brij Bhushan, who has been heading the WFI since 2012. A section of wrestlers launched protest against Brij Bhushan earlier this year, after a couple of female grapplers levelled sexual harassment allegations against him.

The announcement of WFI polls date comes days after the Supreme Court set aside the stay imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, paving the way for the process to elect the new WFI governing body.

An IOA-constituted ad-hoc panel, led by Wushu Association of India chief Bhupender Singh Bajwa, is currently managing the day-to-day activities of the WFI after the sports ministry suspended the activities of the federation headed by Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment levelled by top Indian grapplers.

Several wrestlers, including Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, sat in protest at the Jantar Mantar here for more than two months to protest alleged sexual harassment of female grapplers by Brij Bhushan.

The election process, which was set in motion in July, has been delayed because of court cases. This has further led to the suspension of the WFI by the international federation, United World Wrestling, for failing to conduct fresh polls in the time stipulated by them.

Indian wrestlers continue to participate in international competitions under the UWW flag because of the suspension of the national body.

But with the Supreme Court clearing the path for the elections, the returning officer, Justice (retd) MM Kumar, held a meeting on November 30 and asked Bajwa if there is any change in the electoral college notified on July 25, 2023 for the polls, initially scheduled on August 12.

"The way is paved for holding elections of WFI which were stayed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on August 11, just a day before the date fixed for holding elections," said a statement from the office of the returning officer.

"Returning officer asked Bajwa to inform if there is any change in the electoral college already notified on 25.07.2023... he was asked to provide this information at the earliest. Bajwa sought one week time. Let complete information be furnished within 5 days i.e. on or before 8th December so that final notification for holding elections be issued," said the statement issued by assistant returning officer Tapas Bhattacharya.

With PTI inputs