Hockey India Begins 2026-2030 Election Process With Polls Fixed for December 5
Nominees due October 15 as state polls dispute deepens.
Hockey India has scheduled its elections for December 5 to choose office-bearers for the 2026–2030 term, setting the stage for a leadership contest amid internal disagreements and disputes over state-level elections. The election process is drawing attention to questions surrounding the validity of polls conducted by member units, voting rights and a widening power struggle within the national hockey federation involving president Dilip Tirkey and secretary general Bhola Nath Singh.
Sudhir Tripathi, the newly appointed electoral officer, has directed all permanent member units to nominate one male and one female representative to the federation’s electoral college by October 15. The nominations will determine the composition of the body responsible for participating in the election process. The final electoral roll is scheduled to be published on November 15, providing a formal list of eligible participants ahead of the contest.
The nomination process for candidates will take place from November 22 to November 24. A draft list of nominations is scheduled to be announced on November 24, according to the election timetable. These dates mark the next major stages in the process, following the submission of representatives by permanent member units and the publication of the final electoral roll.
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The election preparations are unfolding against a backdrop of disagreements within Hockey India over the conduct and recognition of state-unit elections. Disputes over whether certain member-unit polls are valid have raised questions about which representatives should be recognised for the national election and who will be entitled to vote. The resolution of these issues could influence the electoral college and the process leading up to the selection of the new office-bearers.
The internal differences have also been linked to a broader contest for influence between Tirkey and Bhola Nath Singh. The disagreement has placed the federation’s administration under scrutiny as it moves towards the December election. However, the election schedule establishes the key procedural deadlines, while the disputes surrounding state polls and voting eligibility remain central concerns in the run-up to the vote.
With the electoral officer overseeing the process, Hockey India’s permanent member units must meet the October 15 deadline for nominating their representatives before the final electoral roll is issued in mid-November. Candidate nominations will follow later that month, ahead of the December 5 election. The outcome will determine the federation’s leadership for the 2026–2030 term, with the election taking place amid continuing questions over representation, voting rights and internal governance.
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