BFI Excludes Anurag Thakur's Name From Electoral College For Elections

The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) on Wednesday rejected Anurag Thakur's nomination for inclusion in the electoral college finalised for the March 28 elections, saying the former Sports Minister was "ineligible" to represent Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh Boxing Association (HPBA) had sent Thakur and President Rajesh Bhandari's names. The BFI issued a 60-member electoral college that was finalised after scrutiny. Thakur, a BJP Lok Sabha MP, was expected to contest for BFI president's post. "Mr. Anurag Singh Thakur (Himachal Pradesh Boxing Association) - The State Unit had sent the name, however, he is found ineligible for violation of Boxing Federation of India notice dated 07.03.2025 and National Sports Development Code of India, 2011," BFI said, explaining the decision.

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".

"Mr Thakur is not an elected member of the Himachal Pradesh state body, that's why his name has been rejected. It is the job of the BFI to scrutinise all the names and send the list of eligible candidates to the Returning Officer, who will now upload the list," said a BFI source.

However, HPBA asserted that Thakur is an elected Executive Council member of the state unit.

"Anurag Thakur is an elected member. He has been a member for last many years in the different capacities including Chairman. But now he is elected as an EC member. We have all the documents," HPBA secretary Surender Kumar Shandil told PTI.

"We have given the two names from our side, let the