Kalyan Chaubey, a former goalkeeper with Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, is elected the new president of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) by defeating Bhaichung Bhutia 33-1.
In its 85-year history, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) got a former player as its president. The former goalkeeper, who is also a BJP leader, won against legendary Bhaichung Bhutia in the election for the top post.
Chaubey’s victory was not a surprise since his candidature was backed by Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh, but the fact that Bhutia could not even get his state association representative as proposer or seconder for filing his nomination papers.
Just after losing the presidential polls, Bhutia had said that he will be in the executive committee as co-opted member.
NA Haris, the Karnataka football head, was elected vice-president defeating fellow Congressman Manvendra Singh. Kipa Ajay, from Arunachal Pradesh, is the new treasurer as he beat Gopalakrishna Kosaraju of Andhra 32-1.
Kalyan Chaubey never played for the India senior team but was a regular goalkeeper in Mohun Bagan and East Bengal.
