New Delhi, October 22 (H.S.): The leadership dispute within the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) is intensifying, with Rohit Jain, Vice-President of the Delhi Amateur Boxing Association, challenging an advisory issued by BFI President Ajay Singh that urged affiliated state units to stay away from the proposed Special General Meeting (SGM) scheduled for October 28. Jain has appealed to state associations to send their representatives to the meeting and participate in deliberations on the no-confidence motion.

On October 19, Rohit Jain and Neeraj Jain, President of the Delhi Amateur Boxing Association, wrote to affiliated state associations questioning the federation’s advisory. Their letter was issued in response to an advisory circulated by BFI President Ajay Singh on October 18, which asked state associations not to nominate representatives for the proposed October 28 SGM or participate in it. The advisory also warned that associations attending or supporting the meeting could face disciplinary action under the BFI constitution.

The Delhi association has questioned the constitutional basis of this warning, maintaining that affiliated state units have the right to participate in the federation’s decision-making process. It has argued that the process for convening the meeting was initiated following a written request from a majority of state associations and a notice issued by BFI Secretary General Pramod Kumar on October 8. The letter further claims that members of the executive committee supported the proposed meeting on October 16.

A central point of contention is the interpretation of Article 32(ii) of the BFI constitution. In his advisory, Ajay Singh cited this provision to argue that the authority to convene a Special General Meeting rests with the president. The Delhi association, however, contends that when a no-confidence motion is being brought against the president himself, he should not have the unilateral authority to prevent the General Assembly from considering the matter.

The Delhi association has also objected to the reported suspension of Secretary General Pramod Kumar. According to the association, the president does not have the authority to suspend an elected secretary general unilaterally, and any such action must follow the prescribed constitutional procedure. The validity of the conflicting suspension orders issued by President Ajay Singh and Secretary General Pramod Kumar has also emerged as a subject of dispute.

The letter also refers to pending proceedings before the Delhi High Court concerning constitutional amendments to the BFI and the elections held on August 21, 2025, in which Ajay Singh was re-elected president. The Delhi association has argued that decisions affecting affiliated members should be carefully reviewed until the legal questions surrounding the federation’s functioning are resolved.

The association has also referred to an earlier no-confidence motion reportedly brought against Ajay Singh on November 19, 2025. In addition, it has expressed concerns over financial management, administrative interference and the treatment of state associations that have raised questions about the federation’s leadership.

Rohit Jain and the Delhi Amateur Boxing Association have urged state associations to disregard the October 18 advisory, submit the names of their representatives to the office of the secretary general and attend the October 28 meeting in person. The association has further stated that any retaliatory action against members participating in the meeting would be brought to the attention of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Indian Olympic Association and the relevant judicial authorities.

Copies of the letter have also been sent to Indian Olympic Association President P. T. Usha, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Sports Authority of India and officials of World Boxing.

The dispute over authority between BFI President Ajay Singh and Secretary General Pramod Kumar remains unresolved, with both sides questioning each other’s powers and the validity of the proposed Special General Meeting continuing to be contested.

With the October 28 meeting approaching, the controversy has increasingly centred on the rights of state associations, the powers of elected office-bearers and compliance with the federation’s constitutional provisions. Ensuring that the dispute does not adversely affect the interests of Indian boxers and coaches also remains a significant concern.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar