Boxing India faces allegations of manipulating election rules

NEW DELHI: The tug of war ahead of the much-delayed elections to form a new Indian Boxing Federation is intensifying with every approaching day and the body entrusted with the job of conducting the polls is now facing allegations of manipulating the election rules.

Boxing India (BI), the body recognised by the International Boxing Association to conduct the elections, continues to face opposition from the participating state units ahead of the September 11 polls.

The Nagaland Amateur Boxing Association is the latest voice of dissent and its Secretary General T Meren Paul has written to BI Secretary General Mohit Bhagchandani and Returning Officer Justice (retd) D K Deshmukh on some technical issues.

Paul has alleged that last-minute changes have been made to the election manual, which, according to him, initially did not allow for one person to be a proposer and seconder for more than one candidate.

Rakesh Thakran, a contestant for the Secretary General's post, had demanded the rejection of his rival Jay Kowli's nomination papers on this ground.

Thakran, who represents the Haryana State Boxing Association, had claimed that Kowli's nomination papers could not stand scrutiny as his candidature was seconded by the same man, who acted as a proposer for two other candidates.

Bharatkumar Whaval, from the Maharashtra Boxing Association, had acted as proposer to Hiren Pandit and Amarjit Singh and a seconder to Kowli's nomination for the Secretary General's post.

However, Kowli has pointed out a clause in the election rules which states that only the "nomination papers delivered second in point of time to the Returning Officer shall be deemed to be inoperative".