Congress eyes Sachin Tendulkar as ’star campaigner’ for MP polls

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Oct 21: After cricket, politics seems to be the next stop for cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar. After master blaster of Indian cricket announced that he will quit playing after his 200th Test match, he has been shortlisted by Congress as ’star campaigner’ for Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls.

 

This means he will be campaigning for Congress with full force in MP under the leadership of Union Minister Jyotiradiya Scindia, who was earlier selected as the chairman of the State Congress Election Campaign Committee by AICC. "Jyotiraditya Scindia will speak to Sachin on the matter," sources said.

According to political observers in Bhopal, Scindia’s appointment has put a challenge before BJP, which under Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, would be seeking a third consecutive term in power in the polls likely in November-December.

Congress is in opposition in Madhya Pradesh since 2003 and to bring it back to power will be a crucial test for Scindia’s leadership and his ability to take everyone along as the party is faction-ridden in the state. However in what seems to be a calculative move by Congress, if Sachin becomes face of the party in MP, its likely that he will be able to garner support considering his huge fan following in the country.

Earlier, Sachin had become the first active sportsperson and cricketer to have been nominated to the Rajya Sabha on June 3, 2012 under the Prominent Citizens Quota. After taking oath, Sachin had said he would want to contribute to not just cricket, but all the sports in India. "I need help from my fellow MPs. I would be happy being remembered as an MP who did something for the development of all sports and not just cricket," Sachin said.