Former Indian goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey was elected as the new president of the All Indian Football Federation (AIFF). He will become the first ex-player to hold the top office of India’s football governing body in its 85 years of existence.
The 45-year-old Kalyan Chaubey pipped Indian football legend and former club team-mate Bhaichung Bhutia to the post by a 33-1 margin in the elections held on Friday. Representatives from the 34 member associations cast their votes.
Kalyan Chaubey made the Indian national squad on several occasions between 1999 to 2006. He has represented India internationally in junior age groups.
The TATA Football Academy (TFA) graduate also enjoyed a successful club career, having turned out for both Kolkata giants East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, as well as JCT and Salgaocar, during his playing days.
After retiring from football, Kalyan Chaubey joined politics in 2015 and contested Lok Sabha elections from West Bengal in 2019. His nomination for the AIFF president was backed by the Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh state bodies.
Kalyan Chaubey will succeed former president Praful Patel, who was removed from his post by the Supreme Court of India in May.
Besides the president’s post, the elections for the new vice-president and treasurer for the AIFF were also contested.
Karnataka Football Association President N A Haris, a sitting MLA, won the election for the vice president post, beating Rajasthan FA’s Manvendra Singh.
Arunachal Pradesh’s Kipa Ajay beat Gopalakrishna Kosaraju of Andhra Pradesh for the treasurer’s post.
All 14 executive committee member candidates were elected unopposed.
