Kirti Azad, 1983 World Cup winner, reflects on his Lok Sabha victory: Playing for country vs. playing for party | Cricket News

The day after defeating BJP heavyweight Dilip Ghosh by a margin of 1.38 lakh votes in Bardhaman–Durgapur, 1983 World Cup winner Kirti Azad, representing the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), reflected on the significance of his cricketing achievements in connecting with voters. Azad acknowledged that his participation in the historic World Cup win over 40 years ago resonated with people as it was a momentous occasion for Indian cricket. He emphasized the transition from playing for the country to representing his party and manifesto in the political arena.

Yusuf Pathan, another former India cricketer representing TMC, also achieved a notable victory in West Bengal by defeating Congress veteran Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for the Baharampur seat. The success of TMC in winning 29 out of 42 seats in West Bengal was attributed to the fulfillment of promises made by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, according to Azad. He praised Banerjee’s governance in the state, emphasizing the tangible benefits provided to the people, contrasting it with what he described as empty rhetoric from BJP and the Prime Minister.

Former state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh, who had won the 2019 Lok Sabha election from Medinipur, was defeated in Bardhaman–Durgapur, a constituency that came into existence in 2009. Azad highlighted the central government issues related to public sector undertakings (PSUs) as key points of contention in the election, criticizing the incumbent representative for unfulfilled promises. He stressed the importance of delivering on commitments to address the concerns of the electorate in Bardhaman–Durgapur.

As a four-time MP, Azad’s political journey includes victories in Darbhanga on a BJP ticket before joining Congress and later TMC. Despite an unsuccessful bid in Dhanbad in 2019, Azad’s experience and transition between political parties underscore the dynamic nature of Indian politics. The message to the BJP, according to Azad, is clear: false promises will not sway voters, especially in constituencies with pressing socio-economic issues.