Indian Boxing: No-confidence motion against BFI president sparks fresh power struggle

Ajay Singh defeated Olympian boxer Jaslal Pradhan to be re-elected the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) president for a third consecutive term August 21 last year. | Photo Credit: PTI

Shortly after the boxers contributed six medals, including three gold, to India’s campaign at the recently-concluded Asian Games, factionalism again rocked the Boxing Federation of India (BFI).

BFI secretary general Pramod Kumar has moved a “no-confidence motion” against president Ajay Singh, while its chief executive officer Col. (retd.) Arun Malik has countered it, terming the attempt “illegal and unconstitutional.”

On October 8, Pramod, claiming the support of a majority of the affiliated state units, sent out a letter convening a Special General Meeting (SGM) on October 24 with a call for no-confidence motion against Singh on grounds of “total breakdown of trust and serious governance collapse.” Later, he revised the date to October 28 as a 21-day notice period was required to make such a move.

In response to it, Malik wrote a letter to the units terming Pramod’s letter “illegal, unconstitutional and without authority” as “the power to call an SGM is vested with the President.” The letter urged the units not to treat the communication, issued by Pramod, who himself is “facing a disciplinary enquiry,” as a valid notice.