The Trinamool is fielding Yusuf Pathan, a former cricket player for Team India and cricketer Irfan Pathan’s brother, from Baharampur Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal. It is a Congress stronghold that is represented by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the leader of the Lok Sabha. Chowdhury is expected to run for reelection from the seat he has served as an MP for five times, even though the Congress has not yet announced its candidates for Bengal.

Regarding his anticipated confrontation with the former cricket player, Chowdhury stated that if the Trinamool wanted to pay tribute to Pathan, they ought to have sent him to the Rajya Sabha.

The Mamata Banerjee-led party today announced candidates for all 42 seats in Bengal, making it official there is no alliance with the non-BJP parties in the state.

Fielding a popular figure like Pathan from Chowdhury’s stronghold is being seen as the Trinamool’s response to his repeated attacks on the party.

Meanwhile, Yusuf’s brother, Irfan Pathan, took to social media to post an emotional message. “Your patience, kindness, help to the needy and service to people even without an official position can be easily noticed. I am confident that once you step into a political role, you will truly make a difference in the daily lives of people @iamyusufpathan,” he posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).