New Delhi, India – Former Sports Minister Anurag Thakur is once again vying for the presidency of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI). His faction has filed a fresh legal challenge against recent constitutional changes enacted by the Interim Committee, adding another layer of complexity to the upcoming BFI elections slated for August 21 in Bangkok.
New Legal Challenge Against Constitutional Changes
The Himachal Pradesh Boxing Association (HPBA) has officially nominated both Thakur and its president Rajesh Bhandari as its representatives for the polls. This move comes after Thakur’s exclusion from the Electoral College for the originally scheduled March 28 elections had already sparked legal action. That previous case is set for its next hearing on August 18.
However, Bhandari confirmed that a new lawsuit was filed on Monday, directly challenging the validity of the constitutional revisions made by the BFI’s Interim Committee. This committee was appointed by World Boxing (formerly AIBA) but, according to Bhandari, made significant constitutional changes without the necessary approval from the Executive Council. “What they have done has led to a cause of action. We filed the suit on Monday. This is against the BFI Constitution. You cannot revise the constitution without getting it approved by the House,” Bhandari asserted.
The Heart of the Dispute: Eligibility and Representation
The crux of the matter lies in the definition of an eligible representative. A March 7 directive from then-BFI president Ajay Singh had stipulated that “Only bona fide and duly elected members during the election AGM (duly notified to BFI) of the State Units affiliated with the BFI shall be authorised,” which initially rendered Thakur ineligible.
The revised BFI Constitution, which World Boxing approved on May 18, further defines a representative as “a person nominated by each Member to represent it at the General Council. Such person shall be an elected member of the State/UT Association in Election AGM in presence of BFI Observer and shall not be a Government servant or holding a public office.”
BFI officials have stated that these constitutional revisions were crucial to avoid a potential suspension of the federation by the international body. Meanwhile, the Sports Ministry is maintaining a cautious “wait-and-watch” approach, citing the ongoing court case as the reason for its non-intervention.
Former High Court judge Rajesh Tandon, who oversaw the previous BFI elections from 2020–2024, will once again serve as the Returning Officer for the upcoming polls. The legal challenge adds significant uncertainty to what is already a crucial election for the future of Indian boxing.
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