Kolkata:

Former Indian cricketer-turned-politician Yusuf Pathan is TMC’s opponent in Baharampur against Congress heavyweight Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. “.

Yusuf Pathan, who retired from all forms of sports in February 2021, feels like he is gaining strength and confidence every day in Baharampur.

“I’m lucky to come to a place where people tell me ‘aap ko hum yahan se jaane nahi denge’ (we won’t let you leave us),” the right-handed batsman, known for his towering sixes, told me. Interviewed by PTI.

“The people here have accepted me as their son, brother or friend. No matter what the polls say, I will stick with them. I will be with them to build the better future they deserve. These people are mine Strength,” bless me and I will win. With my current positive mindset, I am not even considering the possibility of failure,” Pathan said.

He is contesting from the prestigious Baharampur Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district on a Trinamool Congress ticket and has joined Congress veteran and incumbent Adil Ranjan Chaudhry The main challenger in his hometown.

“I have the utmost respect for Adil Chaudhry, he is a senior leader,” he said.

“But when I listen to people, I hear dissatisfaction with his absence at the grassroots level during COVID-19. People here claim that Chaudhry has failed to deliver the central allocations needed to create infrastructure and jobs. People and Congress The experience of 25 years of not having enough job opportunities for MPs should tell people why he failed,” said the former cricketer who moved to Bengal from Gujarat to fight for a Lok Sabha seat.

If Baharampur voters choose him as their electorate, Pathan will create jobs to discourage migrant workers, build world-class sports stadiums, infrastructure for local silk, hot glue and jute industry workers, and build infrastructure for farmers. Support systems as a priority area of ​​work. Parliamentary Representative.

“I have a lot of work to do here. I’ve figured that out in my short time in the area, doing polls and interacting with people,” he said.

However, just a month and a half ago, joining the Lok Sabha polls might have been the last thing on Pathan’s mind until Mamata Banerjee (CM and TMC supremo) and her nephew Abhishek approached him.

“This happened less than a week before the party announced its candidate list on March 10,” Pathan said. “My first reaction was no. I was torn on whether to accept the offer. After all, I had previously Never thought much about politics and wasn’t a particular fan of the craft,” he said.

When asked what finally made him choose politics and TMC, Pathan smiled heartily and said: “Cricket toh khatam ho gaya, kuch toh karna tha (My cricket days are over, I have to do something).” “Seriously, I consulted my family, including my brother Irrfan and wife Afrin. I also spoke to my elders and friends. I soon realized that this could actually be a gift, It is an opportunity for the Almighty to serve the people and bring them help “to give back to society the love and respect I have earned over the years,” he said.

Pathan, however, insisted that he has been familiar with Mamata Banerjee’s politics for over a decade, especially since 2011 when he started playing for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.

“I had come to Bengal for a few months and could see the municipal infrastructure development she had brought to Kolkata. People kept telling me about her work in the field of women’s education and education of the poor. I even spoke to KKR in 2014 Winning the IPL that season,” he recalled.

“So it wasn’t a big deal to accept her offer,” Pathan said.

When asked whether his religious identity as a devout Muslim gives him an advantage over his opponents in a Muslim-majority seat like Baharrampur, Pathan staunchly separated religion from politics.

“I respect every religion in this county, but people should not be treated as a vote bank because of their religious identity.

“Elections should be fought for majorities and minorities, not one or the other. The priority should be economic growth and people’s development so that we can build a future for the next generation,” he asserted.

Pathan was also an efficient player of spin and despite bidding farewell to the professional format, he still retains a deep attachment to the game of cricket.

Pathan said his identity as a cricketer will continue to dominate his new love for politics.

“Both my identities are important and I cannot hide either of them. However, people will always think of me as a cricketer first. They have seen me play and like me for what I do in the middle. Now, they can expect me to serve them one of their own,” he said.

As someone who sweats profusely on the pitch under a rigorous training regimen, Pathan feels that the heat and dust of Baharampur just adds another page to his life.

“We will all return to dust. ‘Dhool se kya darna’ (Why be afraid of it),” he added.