Former Sports Minister Anurag Thakur is back in contention for the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) presidential elections, reigniting a constitutional debate within the federation.
The Himachal Pradesh Boxing Association (HPBA) has nominated both Thakur and its president, Rajesh Bhandari, as candidates for the August 21 election.
Thakur had previously attempted to run in the March 28 elections but was excluded from the Electoral College, prompting legal intervention. The latest suit filed by HPBA contests the validity of recent constitutional amendments made by the Interim Committee, alleging they lack Executive Council approval.
Bhandari stated, “This is against the BFI Constitution. You cannot revise the constitution without getting it approved by the House.” A revised version of the Constitution—endorsed by World Boxing—sets new conditions for eligibility, sparking further debate.
With legal hearings scheduled for August 18, the Sports Ministry is adopting a watchful stance. The elections will be overseen by retired High Court judge Rajesh Tandon, who previously served as Returning Officer from 2020 to 2024.
