Kolkata, April 21: Former Indian cricketer-turned-politician Yusuf Pathan, the TMC's face against Congress heavyweight Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in Baharampur, says he is here to stay in politics and remain connected to people of the city, who have already 슬롯사이트œaccepted him as one of their own슬롯사이트�. Pathan, who retired from all forms of the sport in February 2021, feels with each passing day in Baharampur, he is gaining strength and confidence.

슬롯사이트œI am blessed to have come to a place where people are telling me 슬롯사이트˜aap ko hum yahan se jaane nahi denge' (we won't let you leave us),슬롯사이트� the right-hand batsman, known for his towering sixes, told PTI in an interview. 슬롯사이트œPeople here have already accepted me as their son, brother or friend. I will stick to them no matter what the outcome of the polls is. I will be with them for a better future they deserve. These people are my strength and, 슬롯사이트˜inshallah', I will win. With the kind of positive mindset I am currently in, I am not even thinking of the possibility of a loss,슬롯사이트� Pathan said. Will Ensure People Get Jobs Here: TMC Candidate Yusuf Pathan in Murshidabad

He is contesting from the prestigious Baharampur Lok Sabha seat in Murshidabad district of West Bengal on a Trinamool Congress ticket, and has emerged as the prime challenger to Congress veteran and incumbent Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on his home turf. 슬롯사이트œI have the utmost respect for Adhir Chowdhury, who is a senior leader,슬롯사이트� he said.

슬롯사이트œBut when I listen to people, I hear discontentment over his absence from grassroots during the Covid years. People here allege that Chowdhury failed to bring in the required central grants to create infrastructure and employment opportunities. There's not enough work for people and the MP of 25 years should answer people why he failed,슬롯사이트� said the hard-hitting former cricketer, who moved from Gujarat to fight for a seat on the Lok Sabha floor from Bengal.

Pathan listed creating job opportunities to hold migrant workers back, building a world-class sports complex, infrastructure for local silk, thermocol and jute industry workers, and creating a support system for farmers as priority areas of work, should Baharampur voters choose him as their representative in Parliament. 슬롯사이트œI have a lot of work to do here. I have figured that out in my short presence in the region, during my poll campaigns and interactions with people,슬롯사이트� he said. 슬롯사이트˜You Will Truly Make a Difference슬롯사이트�슬롯사이트�, Irfan Pathan Pens Heartfelt Post as Brother Yusuf Pathan Embarks on Political Journey Ahead of Lok Sabha Elections 2024

Joining the Lok Sabha poll fray, however, was possibly the last thing on Pathan's mind barely a month and a half ago till Mamata Banerjee (CM and TMC supremo) and her nephew Abhishek approached him. 슬롯사이트œIt happened less than a week ahead of the day the party declared its candidate list on March 10,슬롯사이트� Pathan said. 슬롯사이트œMy first response was negative. I was swinging on the horns of a dilemma on whether or not to accept the offer. After all, I had never given a serious thought to politics before, nor was I a particular fan of the craft,슬롯사이트� he stated.

Asked what eventually made him choose politics and the TMC, Pathan said with a hearty laugh: 슬롯사이트œCricket toh khatam ho gaya, kuch toh karna tha (my cricketing days were over and I had to do something).슬롯사이트� 슬롯사이트œOn a serious note, I consulted my family, including my brother Irfan and wife Afreen. I also spoke to my seniors and friends. I soon realised that this could actually be a gift, an opportunity from the Almighty to serve the people and give back to society what I earned all these years in terms of love and respect,슬롯사이트� he said.

Pathan, though, maintained he was familiar with Mamata Banerjee's politics for over a decade, particularly since 2011 when he began playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. 슬롯사이트œI used to come and stay in Bengal for months and could see the civic infrastructure developments she brought to Kolkata. People kept telling me about her work in areas of women's education and for the poor. I even met her in 2014 after KKR won the IPL that season,슬롯사이트� he recounted.

슬롯사이트œHence, saying yes to her offer wasn't much of an issue,슬롯사이트� said Pathan. Asked if his religious identity, that of a devout Muslim, gave him an edge over opponents in a Muslim-majority seat like Baharampur, Pathan firmly dissociated religion from politics. 슬롯사이트œI have respect for every religion in this county, but people should not be treated as vote banks based on their religious identities. 슬롯사이트œElections should be fought for both majority and minority communities, not for one or the other. The priority should be the growth of economy and development of people so that we can build a future for our next generation,슬롯사이트� he asserted.

Pathan, who was also an effective off spinner, continues to maintain a deep attachment to cricket despite bidding adieu to the game's professional formats. Pathan said his identity as a cricketer would continue to dominate his newfound love for politics. 슬롯사이트œBoth my identities are important, none of which I can hide. But, people will always consider me a cricketer first. They have seen me play and loved me for my performances in the middle. Now, they can expect me to serve them as one of their own,슬롯사이트� he said.

As someone who sweated it out on the field under rigorous training schedules, Pathan feels the heat and dust of Baharampur have only added a leaf to his experience in life. 슬롯사이트œTo the dust, we shall all return. 슬롯사이트˜Dhool se kya darna' (why fear it),슬롯사이트� he added.