Indian Football Legend Bhaichung Bhutia Quits Politics, Says ‘Electoral Politics Is Simply Not For Me’

New Delhi: Former India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia has decided on Tuesday to quit politics. The 47-year-old said that he is quitting politics after the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections in Sikkim and added that the electoral politics isn’t made for him. Notably, Bhutia lost for the sixth time in the last 10 years in electoral politics, with the latest in the recently-concluded 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.

In the 2024 Sikkim Assembly Elections, Bhutia lost to Rikshal Dorjee Bhutia of the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha by 4,346 votes in the Barfung seat. “After the 2024 election results, I have had the realisation that electoral politics is simply not for me. I am therefore quitting all forms of electoral politics with immediate effect,” Bhutia said in a statement.

Bhutia, who was president of Hamro Sikkim Party, had merged his party with the Sikkim Democratic Front and contested from Barfung on an SDF ticket. However, the SDF was left with just one seat with the incumbent SKM winning 31 out of the 32 seats.

“My only regret is that I felt I had great ideas with regard to the development of sports and tourism which given a chance, I would have loved to implement and thus contribute to the growth of the state in a very honest and sincere way. Unfortunately, it was not to be. I am certain there will be more people with better ideas to do so,” Bhutia added in his statement.

Meanwhile, Bhutia congratulated Sikkim Krantikari Morcha party and Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay for winning the 2024 Sikkim Assembly Election. “The people of Sikkim have given them a resounding mandate and I hope the SKM govt will work to fulfill their promises and take Sikkim to greater heights across all sectors,” he said.

“One’s intentions must be good”, Mr Bhutia said, “I can only say with utmost honesty and humility that my intention in politics was to do good, for the people of both state and country,” Bhutia quoted Lord Buddha.