Anurag Thakur prone to contest for BFI president’s publish

On Monday, Thakur’s title was despatched as one in all its two representatives by Himachal Pradesh Boxing Affiliation (HPBA) to attend the Annual Common Assembly and be a part of the electoral school for the federation’s March 28 elections.

“We’ve nominated Anurag Thakur ji and president Rajesh Bhandari as our representatives for the AGM,” HPBA secretary SK Shandil advised HT. Requested whether or not Thakur would contest for the president’s publish, he stated: “We’ve to attend and see.”

Thakur, a BJP Lok Sabha MP and former cricket board president, is a part of the Himachal boxing physique’s govt board, he stated. “He has been lengthy related to HPBA, serving in varied capacities,” he added.

Two different prime BFI officers confirmed that Thakur would run for the president’s publish. “His title has been forwarded by HPBA for the electoral school. When somebody of his stature goes as consultant of the state, all indications are that he’s going to file nomination for the BFI president’s publish,” a senior federation official conscious of the developments advised HT.

One other BFI official stated Thakur’s title has been mentioned by the state models in the previous couple of days. “We’re conscious of the scenario. He has proven curiosity to turn into BFI president and there’s lot for assist from BFI models. Boxing goes by means of turmoil in the meanwhile and we’d like an ready administrator to deliver the game again on monitor,” stated a state consultant who holds a prime place within the nationwide boxing physique.

BFI president Ajay Singh, who’s the SpiceJet chairman and managing director, has spent two phrases heading the federation and is to go for a 3rd time period, individuals near him stated. “He has performed lots for the game in his two phrases. He took the initiative to deliver India below World Boxing, which has bought provisional recognition from IOC,” stated one other BFI official.

Final week, Indian Olympic Affiliation (IOA) president PT Usha named an advert hoc physique to run boxing affairs after blaming the federation for delaying its election. Singh’s time period had resulted in early February. BFI then approached the Delhi excessive court docket and bought the IOA order stayed.

On March 4, BFI secretary common Hemanta Kumar Kalita issued discover for election with March 28 on the date. The state models had been requested to ship the names of their representatives by Monday 6.00pm. On March 7, BFI introduced the appointment of former Delhi HC choose, justice RK Gauba, as returning officer.

It has been learnt that some BFI members raised objections that the election discover was incomplete. “The notification should have the complete timeline with date for nominations, and so on. That’s but to be issued and it raises a number of questions,” stated a BFI official.

An workplace order issued by BFI on March 7 stating that “solely bonafide and duly elected members throughout the election AGM (notified to BFI) of the state models affiliated with the BFI shall be authorised to signify their respective States/Union Territories,” has been objected to by some state models together with Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh on grounds of “interference in inside political beliefs models.”

HPBA stated the “provision unlawfully restricts” the autonomy of the state models in selecting their representatives.

“The communication additional imposes an arbitrary and extra requirement that representatives have to be elected at an AGM… Underneath the present BFI laws every state unit has the prerogative to appoint representatives based mostly on its inside governance construction,” HPBA president Rajesh Bhandari wrote to Ajay Singh, urging him to withdraw the notification.

An identical objection was raised by BFI treasurer and Madhya Pradesh unit secretary Digvijay Singh, who’s prone to contest for one of many senior posts. “This notification creates potential authorized vulnerabilities. The denial of our proper to appoint representatives in accordance with BFI’s established guidelines and laws constitutes an unjust encroachment upon our governance framework,” he wrote.