Cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir has reportedly expressed his intention not to seek re-election from the East Delhi Lok Sabha seat. This decision follows his request to BJP president JP Nadda to relieve him of his political duties. Gambhir, who retired from all forms of cricket in 2018, joined the BJP shortly before the 2019 general elections, triumphing over Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi in East Delhi.

Speculation mounts as Gambhir’s move hints at a potential trend within the BJP to deny tickets to sitting MPs in the national capital, where the party secured all seven seats in both the 2014 and 2019 elections. In a statement shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Gambhir cited upcoming cricket commitments as the primary reason for his decision, expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for the opportunity to serve the people.

Gambhir’s announcement coincides with the AAP’s nomination of sitting Kondli MLA Kuldeep Kumar Monu for the East Delhi seat. Notably, Monu, belonging to the Scheduled Caste, has been fielded by the AAP in an unreserved constituency, a move lauded by Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal as “revolutionary.”

As part of the INDIA alliance for the 2024 elections, AAP is set to contest four seats, while the Congress will field candidates in three Lok Sabha constituencies in Delhi. Gambhir, previously criticized for prioritizing cricket commitments over parliamentary duties, will now mentor the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), a team he captained from 2011 to 2017 in the Indian Premier League, clinching titles in 2012 and 2014