All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Kalyan Chaubey has expressed strong optimism about the growth of football and other sports in West Bengal under the newly formed BJP government. Speaking to ANI, Chaubey highlighted that the state would benefit from the 'Khelo India' initiative, which he claimed was never properly implemented in the state under previous administrations.
Chaubey Criticizes Past Governments, Praises New Leadership
Chaubey asserted that the political atmosphere in West Bengal had been dominated by negativity for five decades under the CPI(M) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) rule. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing change, stating that within just two months of the BJP government taking office, investment opportunities worth ₹15,000 to ₹20,000 crore had already emerged. He expressed confidence that Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's leadership would significantly boost sports, particularly football.
"The atmosphere of negative politics that persisted in West Bengal for 50 years has changed under PM Modi's leadership. During the 49-year rule of the CPI(M) and TMC, the state witnessed nothing but an exodus. Within just two months of the BJP government taking office, investment opportunities worth ₹15,000-20,000 crore have emerged," Chaubey said.
Khelo India’s Role in Grassroots Development
The AIFF President lamented that the Khelo India programme was never organized in West Bengal despite the state's rich sporting heritage in football, cricket, and other disciplines. He emphasized that Khelo India provides a crucial platform for athletes to showcase their talent at the grassroots level. "Now, this will change; infrastructure and competitions will be developed through 'Khelo India'. We believe that under the leadership of CM Suvendu Adhikari, sports--especially football--will flourish significantly," he added.
The Khelo India initiative, launched by the central government, aims to revive India's sporting culture by creating a strong foundation for various sports across the country and nurturing young talent to establish India as a leading sporting nation.
Telangana to Host Khelo India Youth Games 2026
In a related development, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya announced on Wednesday that Telangana will host the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2026 edition. The eighth iteration of KIYG is expected to take place in November 2026. Telangana will become the second southern Indian state in three years to host the event, following Tamil Nadu which hosted the 2024 edition. The most recent edition was hosted by Bihar in May 2025.
Chaubey's remarks underscore a broader push to integrate West Bengal into the national sports development framework, with football expected to be a primary beneficiary of the enhanced focus on grassroots programs and infrastructure improvement.
