NAGPUR: Exactly 26 days after the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) dissolved the Maharashtra State Wrestling Association (MSWA), which was headed by NCP supremo Sharad Pawar for 40 long years, Wardha MP Ramdas Tadas is all set to become new MSWA president.
After a special general body meeting of MSWA in the city, where 45 district associations came together and initiated the election process under the observation of WFI, Maharashtra is set to get a new wrestling body on Sunday.
After the nomination process, where 2-3 candidates applied for all posts of office bearers, Tuesday saw the withdrawal of all double applications. BJP MP Tadas, who is also a former star wrestler of Vidarbha, remained the lone candidate for the president's post and will be elected unopposed.
Latur's Arjuna awardee Kakasaheb Pawar is the only candidate for the secretary's position. Similarly, all other office bearers will be elected unopposed during the elections scheduled on Sunday. Nagpur's Dilip Itankar will be the executive member.
Confirming the development Tadas said, "The MSWA, which was formed in 1953, was till now headed by just four presidents, with Sharad Pawar being president for the last 40 years along with Balasaheb Landge as general secretary. Out of the 45 district associations, 30 have complained against Landge and his functioning as MSWA secretary. Since Pawar didn't pay heed to our complaints, we approached the WFI president. After scrutinizing various complaints, WFI dissolved MSWA and made us follow the National Sports Code, where 81-year-old Pawar was not eligible for election due to his age."
Tadas will be the first from Vidarbha to head Maharashtra's wrestling association. On his plans, Tadas said, "Our priority is to develop infrastructure and at the same time we will take efforts to produce champion wrestlers in Maharashtra. I will also demand the prestigious Hind Kesari tournament be organized in Wardha next year."
