Yusuf Pathan mentioned he needs to stay linked to folks of Kolkata
Kolkata:
Former Indian cricketer-turned-politician Yusuf Pathan, the TMC’s face in opposition to Congress heavyweight Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in Baharampur, says he’s right here to remain in politics and stay linked to folks of town, who’ve already “accepted him as one in all their very own”.
Yusuf Pathan, who retired from all types of the game in February 2021, feels with every passing day in Baharampur, he’s gaining power and confidence.
“I’m blessed to have come to a spot the place persons are telling me ‘aap ko hum yahan se jaane nahi denge’ (we can’t allow you to go away us),” the right-hand batsman, recognized for his towering sixes, advised PTI in an interview.
“Individuals right here have already accepted me as their son, brother or good friend. I’ll follow them it doesn’t matter what the end result of the polls is. I will likely be with them for a greater future they deserve. These persons are my power and, ‘inshallah’, I’ll win. With the type of constructive mindset I’m at present in, I’m not even pondering of the potential for a loss,” Pathan mentioned.
He’s contesting from the celebrated Baharampur Lok Sabha seat in Murshidabad district of West Bengal on a Trinamool Congress ticket, and has emerged because the prime challenger to Congress veteran and incumbent Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on his residence turf.
“I’ve the utmost respect for Adhir Chowdhury, who’s a senior chief,” he mentioned.
“However after I hearken to folks, I hear discontentment over his absence from grassroots in the course of the Covid years. Individuals right here allege that Chowdhury failed to herald the required central grants to create infrastructure and employment alternatives. There’s not sufficient work for folks and the MP of 25 years ought to reply folks why he failed,” mentioned the hard-hitting former cricketer, who moved from Gujarat to struggle for a seat on the Lok Sabha ground from Bengal.
Pathan listed creating job alternatives to carry migrant staff again, constructing a world-class sports activities advanced, infrastructure for native silk, thermocol and jute trade staff, and making a assist system for farmers as precedence areas of labor, ought to Baharampur voters select him as their consultant in Parliament.
“I’ve lots of work to do right here. I’ve figured that out in my brief presence within the area, throughout my ballot campaigns and interactions with folks,” he mentioned.
Becoming a member of the Lok Sabha ballot fray, nevertheless, was probably the very last thing on Pathan’s thoughts barely a month and a half in the past until Mamata Banerjee (CM and TMC supremo) and her nephew Abhishek approached him.
“It occurred lower than per week forward of the day the celebration declared its candidate checklist on March 10,” Pathan mentioned. “My first response was destructive. I used to be swinging on the horns of a dilemma on whether or not or to not settle for the supply. In spite of everything, I had by no means given a critical thought to politics earlier than, nor was I a specific fan of the craft,” he said.
Requested what ultimately made him select politics and the TMC, Pathan mentioned with a hearty giggle: “Cricket toh khatam ho gaya, kuch toh karna tha (my cricketing days have been over and I needed to do one thing).” “On a critical be aware, I consulted my household, together with my brother Irfan and spouse Afreen. I additionally spoke to my seniors and associates. I quickly realised that this might really be a present, a possibility from the Almighty to serve the folks and provides again to society what I earned all these years by way of love and respect,” he mentioned.
Pathan, although, maintained he was accustomed to Mamata Banerjee’s politics for over a decade, notably since 2011 when he started taking part in for the Kolkata Knight Riders within the IPL.
“I used to return and keep in Bengal for months and will see the civic infrastructure developments she dropped at Kolkata. Individuals saved telling me about her work in areas of girls’s training and for the poor. I even met her in 2014 after KKR gained the IPL that season,” he recounted.
“Therefore, saying sure to her supply wasn’t a lot of a difficulty,” mentioned Pathan.
Requested if his non secular identification, that of a religious Muslim, gave him an edge over opponents in a Muslim-majority seat like Baharampur, Pathan firmly dissociated faith from politics.
“I’ve respect for each faith on this county, however folks shouldn’t be handled as vote banks based mostly on their non secular identities.
“Elections must be fought for each majority and minority communities, not for one or the opposite. The precedence must be the expansion of economic system and improvement of individuals in order that we are able to construct a future for our subsequent era,” he asserted.
Pathan, who was additionally an efficient off spinner, continues to take care of a deep attachment to cricket regardless of bidding adieu to the sport’s skilled codecs.
Pathan mentioned his identification as a cricketer would proceed to dominate his newfound love for politics.
“Each my identities are necessary, none of which I can cover. However, folks will all the time think about me a cricketer first. They’ve seen me play and cherished me for my performances within the center. Now, they’ll count on me to serve them as one in all their very own,” he mentioned.
As somebody who sweated it out on the sphere below rigorous coaching schedules, Pathan feels the warmth and dirt of Baharampur have solely added a leaf to his expertise in life.
“To the mud, we will all return. ‘Dhool se kya darna’ (why concern it),” he added.
