Kirti Azad, a 1983 World Cup winner who represented the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), celebrated his victory in the Bardhaman-Durgapur seat by defeating BJP heavyweight Dilip Ghosh. Azad’s win was significant as it marked a major triumph for the TMC, which had won only one seat in this region since 2014.
Azad highlighted that his World Cup victory still resonates with voters, even after more than 40 years. He believes that playing for the country back then and now playing for his party and manifesto creates a connection with the voters. The TMC’s success in West Bengal was attributed to the promises fulfilled by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, as stated by Azad. He commended Banerjee for delivering on her promises and fulfilling the needs of the people, contrasting it with what he perceived as empty rhetoric from the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Another former India cricketer, Yusuf Pathan, also representing TMC, scored a major victory in West Bengal by defeating Congress veteran Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for the Baharampur seat. The TMC’s success in winning 29 out of 42 seats in West Bengal was attributed to its ability to deliver on its promises to the people, something that was sorely lacking from other parties.
The election in Bardhaman-Durgapur revolved around central government issues related to Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) that have faced closures. The incumbent SS Ahluwalia had made promises that were left unfulfilled, leading to widespread discontent among the people. Azad highlighted that the electorate was disillusioned with false promises and sent a clear message to the BJP that such tactics would not be effective in this region.
Azad is a four-time MP who has previously won from Darbhanga three times on a BJP ticket before moving to Congress in 2019. Despite an unsuccessful bid in Dhanbad on a Congress ticket, he joined TMC in 2021 and continues to be a prominent figure in West Bengal politics, advocating for the interests and welfare of his constituents.
In conclusion, Kirti Azad’s victory over Dilip Ghosh marks a significant milestone for TMC’s dominance over Bardhaman-Durgapur seat. His World Cup victory continues to resonate with voters today as it highlights how playing for your country can create a connection with them even after so many years have passed.
The success of TMC is attributed largely to its ability to deliver on its promises made by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, which sets it apart from other parties like BJP who rely heavily on empty rhetoric from Narendra Modi.
Central government issues such as PSU closures played a crucial role in determining who would win this seat as voters were frustrated with lack of action from previous incumbents.
Overall, Kirti Azad remains an important figure in West Bengal politics and will continue advocating for his constituents while leveraging his past achievements both as cricketer and politician alike.
