Rajesh Bhandari appointed Acting President at EC meeting; Ajay Singh’s camp rejects the proceedings

Ajay Singh (Image credit: X) NEW DELHI: In a fresh escalation of the power struggle within the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), the anti-president Ajay Singh faction claimed that eight members of the executive committee (EC) supported its decision to lift the suspension of general secretary Pramod Kumar and appoint senior vice-president Rajesh Bhandari as acting president.The group said the resolutions were passed at an EC meeting held in the capital recently, ahead of a special general meeting (SGM) to be held on October 28 where a no-confidence motion against Singh is scheduled to be considered.However, BFI Executive Director Col (retd) Arun Malik dismissed the meeting and its decision, saying the federation had not issued any notification in accordance with its constitution. “The constitution of the BFI specifically requires the president to confirm the date, venue and agenda of the EC meeting and requires meetings to be convened on the recommendation of the president,” Malik told TOI, adding that Singh was not informed.Malik claimed that the BFI did not recognize Bhandari’s appointment or any resolutions passed at the alleged meeting.Among those present at the EC were vice presidents Leonardo Daniel Oliver D Gama and Bhandari, Kumar, treasurer Pon Bhaskaran, joint secretaries Swapan Banerjee and Teli Khai and executive members Pheiroijam Dhanajit Singh and Kamal Ch Goyary. Bhaskaran participated online.The minutes state that the committee unanimously approved the proposed motion of no confidence to be discussed and voted on by the general body. It also lifted Kumar’s suspension, supported the formation of a constitutional committee and approved the appointment of Bhandari as acting president citing D Gama’s health problems. The resolutions further questioned the constitutional amendments passed at the August 27 SGM and alleged that the consent of the state units was obtained under duress.Malik defended the August constitutional amendments, saying they were approved by the general body with the required quorum and an overwhelming majority, then published on the BFI’s official website and announced to World Boxing.The confrontation follows Kumar Singh’s suspension and the Chief Secretary’s subsequent counter-order against the President. Kumar’s faction blames governance and administrative irregularities, while Singh’s camp questions the validity of the proposed no-confidence process.