1. Trinamool Congress (TMC) selects ex-cricketer Yusuf Pathan for Lok Sabha candidacy in Baharampur.
2. Yusuf Pathan’s nomination among 42 candidates was disclosed by TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee at the Kolkata rally.
3. Pathan’s potential contest against Adhir Chowdhury highlights TMC’s strategic election move.
Kolkata, March 10: In a significant move ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) announced former cricketer Yusuf Pathan as its candidate for the Baharampur seat in Murshidabad district.
This decision was unveiled among 42 candidates revealed by TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee during a massive rally at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground.
Pathan’s entry into the political fray has sparked intrigue, particularly as he is slated to possibly challenge West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in the Baharampur constituency.
Chowdhury’s vocal criticism of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee adds layer of significance to this electoral duel.
Another notable inclusion in TMC’s candidate list is Mahua Moitra, who gained notoriety after expulsion from the Lok Sabha amidst a bribery scandal.
Moitra will be contesting from the Krishnanagar Lok Sabha constituency, returning to the same seat that propelled her into the Lok Sabha in 2019.
Interestingly, the decision to drop TMC MP Nusrat Jahan from the Basirhat constituency stems from the recent Sandeshkhali controversy.
The actor-turned-politician has been replaced by Haji Nurul Islam in Basirhat, indicating potential repercussions from the contentious incident.
Also Read: Trinamool Announces Candidates for Lok Sabha 2024 Election, Mahua Moitra, Yusuf Pathan on List
Who is Yusuf Pathan?
- Cricket Career Highlights: Yusuf Pathan rose to prominence as an all-rounder in India’s limited-overs cricket team, notably contributing to the team’s victories in the 2007 ICC WT20 and the 2011 ICC World Cup.
- IPL Stint: Pathan’s stellar performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL), particularly with the Rajasthan Royals, catapulted him into the national spotlight and earned him a place in the Indian team. He later played for Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL.
- Baroda Connection: A stalwart of the Baroda Ranji team, Yusuf is the elder half-brother of former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan, further solidifying the family’s cricketing legacy.
- International Career: Making his international debut in the final of the 2007 ICC WT20 against Pakistan, Pathan represented India in 22 T20Is and 57 ODIs. He amassed 810 runs and claimed 33 wickets in his ODI career.
- Retirement: Pathan bid farewell to international cricket in 2021, marking the end of an illustrious career that spanned various formats and tournaments.
- Domestic Cricket Prowess: Beyond his international exploits, Yusuf Pathan enjoyed a fruitful domestic career, featuring in 100 first-class matches along with numerous List A and T20 fixtures.
As Yusuf Pathan ventures into the realm of politics, his transition from the cricket field to the electoral arena underscores the multifaceted nature of public life in India, where individuals from diverse backgrounds converge to shape the nation’s democratic landscape.
