Anurag Thakur's Exclusion From Final Boxing Federation of India Electoral College List Triggers Row

Attempts to include Anurag Thakur in the electoral college for the upcoming Boxing Federation of India (BFI) elections were quashed after the former sports minister's name was not included in the final list approved by the returning officer on Thursday. A 60-member electoral college, issued by president Ajay Singh, on Wednesday said Thakur was "ineligible" for the federation's poll process as his nomination was in violation of the notice dated 07.03.2025 as well as the National Sports Code.

BFI secretary Hemanta Kalita, however, later released another list which included the former sports minister's name.

But Justice (retd.) In his order, RK Gauba, the returning officer, said that Kalita's list cannot be acted upon.

"Having heard all concerned, the undersigned is of the view that the Electoral College List prepared by Mr. Kalita, the incumbent Secretary General of BFI cannot be acted upon in view of the unambiguous rules vesting in the "overall powers of supervision" over the working of BFI and also responsibility to "oversee office Bearers/Members" of the EC," the order, in possession of PTI, read.

The March 7 notice, sent to all affiliated state associations, had mentioned that "only bonafide and duly elected members during the election AGM (duly notified to BFI) of the State Units affiliated with the BFI shall be authorised to represent their respective States/Union Territories".

It is expected that Thakur's faction, which had approached Gauba earlier in the day, will now take legal action.

"We met and spoke with the returning officer today. Gave him our representation. We are quite hopeful," Himachal Pradesh Boxing Association (HPBA) president Rajesh Bhandari told PTI.

"We will seek court intervention if required.