Former cricketer and two-time BJP MP Chetan Chauhan has been appointed as the chairman of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) where he has promised to spend '20 percent' of his time.
Chauhan takes over from Kiran Dhingra, a retired IAS officer as the chairman. The Board of Governors of NIFT, according to The Indian Express, was reconstituted in 2010 under Dayanidhi Maran, Textiles Minister in the UPA. Venu Srinivasan, chairman of TVS Motor Co and managing director of Sundaram Clayton Ltd, was appointed as the chairman then.
Speaking to The Indian Express exclusively, Chauhan said, "My fashion sense is not being flamboyant but well dressed. I am not dashing fashion-oriented because I have to go with what suits my age. But I like to dress up smartly and well."
He also added: "We have a Board of Governors and a senate, which includes directors and chairpersons. The supreme body is the Board of Governors, of which I am the chairman. All major decisions are taken in the Board meeting, and I call that meeting. There are three MPs also on the Board.β
Chauhan, also very graciously, said that he will devote 20% of his time to NIFT, 60% to DDCA and 20% to his business.
Twitter, however, was far from convinced by the appointment and was in splits predicting similar appointments that the government may want to make.
Ex-Cricketer Chetan Chauhan is Chief of NIFT.
Love his fashion.
Here he is in Shikari Shambhu's new Fall collection. pic.twitter.com/PLzBo0i9n2
β Sorabh Pant (@hankypanty) June 18, 2016
After #ChetanChauhan takes over #NIFT head, fashion shows will be like... pic.twitter.com/dsc8OQeL8G
β Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) June 18, 2016
After Gajendra chauhan for FTII, Chetan Chauhan for NIFT, abt time we made Annu Kapoor the head of ISRO. #IssLaunchPeKuchNahiBolneKa
β Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) June 18, 2016
If Gajendra Chauhan can head FTII, Chetan Chauhan the NIFT, surely Hema Malini can head ISRO, Anupam Kher the IITs and Sidhu can head NID.
β pravin mishra (@mishra_pravin) June 18, 2016
Smriti heads HRD
Gajendra heads FTII
Nihalani heads CBFC
Chetan Chauhan heads NIFT
Why shouldn't Sunny Deol head MoD?#MeraDeshBadalRahaHai
β Sanjiv Bhatt (IPS) (@sanjivbhatt) June 18, 2016
Chetan Chauhan is NIFT chief. India need a cricket coach. How about Rohit Bal?
β Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) June 18, 2016