BFI Elections: Ajay Singh and Rajesh Bhandari Compete for Presidency
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Synopsis
The upcoming BFI elections will see incumbent president Ajay Singh face off against Rajesh Bhandari, Hemanta Kumar Kalita, and D Chandralal for the federation's presidency on March 28. The elections follow a period of management issues and delays.
Key Takeaways
- Ajay Singh is running for a third term as BFI president.
- Rajesh Bhandari has also nominated himself for the vice-president position.
- The elections are set for March 28.
- Former Minister Anurag Thakur's nomination was rejected.
- An Adhoc Committee has been formed to manage BFI's affairs.
New Delhi, March 17 (NationPress) The current president of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), Ajay Singh, will contend against vice-president Rajesh Bhandari, secretary general Hemanta Kumar Kalita, and D Chandralal, secretary of the Kerala State Amateur Boxing Association, for the leading position in the elections scheduled for March 28.
Ajay Singh, aiming for his third consecutive term as BFI president, also serves as the chairman of SpiceJet Airlines. Bhandari, who holds the presidency of the Himachal Pradesh Boxing Association, has submitted his nomination for the vice-president position in the north zone, while Chandralal has put forth his nomination for the joint secretary role in the south zone.
Four candidates are vying for the secretary-general position, and seven are contesting for the treasurer role.
The candidates nominated for the secretary position include Pramod Kumar from Uttar Pradesh, Satish N from Karnataka, Anil Kumar Bohidar from Odisha, and the current treasurer Digvijay Singh from Madhya Pradesh, who has also declared his candidacy for the treasurer position.
The official list of nominees was released on Monday, with the scrutiny of nominations set for Tuesday, according to the election timeline provided by returning officer, Justice (retd) RK Gauba.
Former Sports Minister Anurag Thakur was anticipated to run for the presidency, but his nomination was declined by BFI chief Ajay Singh. The BFI clarified, "Mr. Anurag Singh Thakur (Himachal Pradesh Boxing Association) – The State Unit had forwarded the name, but he was found ineligible due to a breach of the Boxing Federation of India notice dated 07.03.2025 and the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011."
Last month, following delays in the BFI elections and growing concerns of mismanagement, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) established a five-member Adhoc Committee, which includes senior boxer Shiva Thapa, to oversee the daily operations of the organization until all matters are addressed.
