Anurag Thakur Back in BFI Election Fray Amid Fresh Legal Challenge

Former Sports Minister Anurag Thakur has re-entered the contest for the presidency of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), with his faction mounting a new legal challenge against recent constitutional changes introduced by the Interim Committee. The developments come just weeks ahead of the BFI elections, scheduled for August 21.

The Himachal Pradesh Boxing Association (HPBA) has officially nominated both Thakur and its president Rajesh Bhandari as its representatives for the polls. “We have sent Anurag Thakur and my name as HPBA’s representatives,” Bhandari confirmed on Monday, the final day for filing nominations.

Thakur had previously been in contention for the elections originally set for March 28 but was excluded from the Electoral College approved by then BFI president Ajay Singh and the then Returning Officer. That exclusion triggered legal proceedings, with the next court hearing on the matter fixed for August 18.

Bhandari revealed that a new suit has now been filed, contesting the validity of the constitutional revisions made by the Interim Committee. “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,” he argued.

The controversy traces back to a March 7 directive by Ajay Singh, which stated that only “bona fide and duly elected members during the election AGM (duly notified to BFI) of the State Units” could participate. This rule was used to declare Thakur ineligible.

However, the revised BFI Constitution — approved by World Boxing on May 18 — tightened the definition further. It specifies that a representative must be an elected member of a state or union territory association during an Election AGM held in the presence of a BFI observer, and crucially, must not be a government servant or hold public office.

According to BFI officials, these revisions were necessary to prevent suspension by World Boxing. But critics, including Thakur’s camp, argue that the changes bypassed proper Executive Council approval and undermine the federation’s internal democratic processes.

The Sports Ministry has so far adopted a wait-and-watch approach, refraining from direct intervention while legal proceedings are underway.

Former High Court judge Rajesh Tandon, who previously oversaw the 2020–24 BFI elections, has once again been appointed as the Returning Officer for the upcoming polls, which are expected to be closely fought amid ongoing disputes.