BFI Polls: Anurag Thakur's Nomination from HP State Unit Denied by Federation
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India, March 12 -- The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has declined the nomination of former union sports minister Anurag Thakur from the Himachal Pradesh state association for the upcoming federation elections set for March 28.
A notification from the BFI, endorsed by its president Ajay Singh, indicated that Thakur was deemed "ineligible" for the elections due to a breach of both the federation's constitution and the National Sports Code.
Thakur had been anticipated to contest for the position of BFI president. Additionally, representatives from the Tripura Amateur Boxing Association and Larry Kharpran of the Meghalaya Boxing Association were also found ineligible following the review process. The eligibility of a nominee from the Delhi Amateur Boxing Association will be determined based on the directives of the returning officer, as stated in the notification.
A circular from the BFI, released on March 7, specified that "only bona fide and duly elected members during the election AGM of the state units affiliated with the BFI (as submitted to the federation) shall be authorized to represent their respective states/union territories."
Thirty-two BFI units have put forth the names of two representatives each for the elections.
A BFI official clarified that Thakur was not a member of the executive body of the Himachal Pradesh Boxing Association.
The directive clearly indicated that only those members elected during their Annual General Meeting (AGM) are eligible for nomination by state units. It was established that the election records of the HPBA, maintained by the BFI, do not include him as a member of the unit's executive body. Therefore, in accordance with BFI regulations and the sports code, he is deemed ineligible to participate in the electoral college, as stated by the official.
On March 8, HPBA responded to BFI, contesting the federation's circular by asserting that "the provision unlawfully restricts" the autonomy of state units in selecting their representatives.
"The correspondence further imposes an arbitrary and additional requirement that representatives must be elected at the AGM... According to the current BFI regulations, each state unit retains the right to nominate representatives based on its internal governance framework," wrote HPBA president Rajesh Bhandari in his communication to Ajay Singh, urging the withdrawal of the notification.
The boxing federation has experienced some unrest in the lead-up to the elections. Ajay Singh's term concluded in February, prompting the Indian Olympic Association to appoint an ad hoc body on February 24 to oversee the sport, citing that delays in conducting new elections had resulted in "administrative instability." However, the BFI filed a petition with the Delhi High Court and obtained a stay on the ad hoc body's appointment. The federation also informed the court that it was preparing to conduct the elections.
Ajay Singh, who serves as the chairman of SpiceJet, is anticipated to pursue a third term as president.
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