In the aftermath of his impressive victory in Bardhaman–Durgapur, 1983 World Cup winner Kirti Azad reflected on the significance of his cricketing achievements in connecting with voters. The former India cricketer, representing the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), 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.
Azad emphasized the transition from playing for the country to representing his party and manifesto in the political arena. He praised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s governance in West Bengal, highlighting the tangible benefits provided to the people, contrasting it with what he described as empty rhetoric from BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Another former India cricketer representing TMC, Yusuf Pathan, 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 Banerjee.
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 central government issues related to public sector undertakings (PSUs) as key points of contention in the election, criticizing Ghosh for unfulfilled promises. He stressed the importance of delivering on commitments to address concerns raised by voters in Bardhaman–Durgapur.
As a four-time MP, Azad’s political journey includes victories 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 underscored
