Calcutta: Former India player Ashoke Dinda on Wednesday (February 24, 2021) joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, hours after another cricketer, Manoj Tiwary, was included in the Trinamool Congress.
Ashoke Dinda began his political career in the presence of Union Minister Babul Supriyo and West Bengal BJP Vice President Arjun Singh, ANI news agency reported.
The 36-year-old had announced his retirement from all cricket formats on February 2. The seamer appeared in 13 ODI and nine T20I for India.
Thanks a lot @BCCI @CricketCricket @goacricassc pic.twitter.com/sg0Umrfx6p
– Ashoke Dinda (@dindaashoke) February 3, 2021
The political entrances of Ashoke Dinda and Manoj Tiwary begin months before the West Bengal assembly election, which will likely take place in April or May.
Earlier in the day, Manoj Tiwary, who has played for the Indian side in 12 ODIs and three T20I matches, joined TMC in a rally in Hooghly in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Said she’s trying to bring people together.
“BJP is playing divisive politics and Mamata Banerjee is trying to bring people together. When I play cricket, I play for the country, not on the basis of religion,” Tiwary said, according to ANI.
The West Bengal player took to his official Twitter account to report on his ‘new journey’. He also created a new account on Instagram and said: “A new journey starts from today. I need all your love and support. From now on, this will be my political profile on Instagram.”
A new journey begins today. I need all your love and support. #DidiShowsTheWay #AssemblyElection #West Bengal #JoyBangla pic.twitter.com/TrrFX67USP
– MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) February 24, 2021
A new journey begins today. I need all your love and support. From now on this will be my political profile on Instagram https://t.co/uZ9idMW7lD
– MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) February 24, 2021
Tiwary’s addition to the TMC comes at a time when several leaders, including veteran MP Dinesh Trivedi and political heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari, left the Mamata Banerjee-led party in recent weeks. Former West Bengal Rajib Banerjee also left the party along with four other disgruntled leaders.
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