Former India all-rounder stuns Congress bastion with decisive win in Baharampur Lok Sabha seat.
May 4, 2026: Former Indian cricketer Yusuf Pathan made a remarkable political debut by winning the Baharampur Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal as a candidate of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). Born in Vadodara, Pathan rose to fame as a powerful all-rounder and was part of India’s victorious squads in the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup and the 2011 ICC ODI World Cup. After retiring from cricket, he transitioned into public life before formally entering politics ahead of the 2024 general elections.
The Baharampur constituency in Murshidabad district has long been considered a stronghold of the Indian National Congress, largely due to the dominance of senior leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who held the seat since 1999. Known for its diverse electorate and focus on issues like infrastructure, employment, and agriculture, the constituency had resisted the broader political shifts seen across the state for decades.
In a closely watched contest, Pathan defeated Chowdhury by a margin of over 85,000 votes, securing more than 5.24 lakh votes against his opponent’s 4.39 lakh. The result marked a major upset and ended the Congress veteran’s long-standing hold over the seat. The victory is seen as a significant breakthrough for the TMC and reflects changing political dynamics in the region.