Kolkata, West Bengal – Newly elected Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament, Yusuf Pathan, on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, addressed and dismissed circulating rumors suggesting he had been asked to resign from his Lok Sabha seat. The former international cricketer, who recently won the Baharampur constituency, explicitly stated that neither TMC chief Mamata Banerjee nor any other party leader had made such a request.

Pathan, making his political debut in the 2024 general elections, characterized the claims as "completely false." He emphasized that the information being spread was unfounded and that he had received no instructions from the party leadership regarding his resignation. His statement aims to quash speculation that had gained traction across various platforms following the election results.

The rumors emerged in the context of Pathan's significant electoral victory, where he secured the Baharampur seat, a long-held bastion of the Congress party. His win was a notable upset, defeating five-time sitting MP and prominent Congress leader, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, by a margin of 85,038 votes. This victory was a key gain for the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal.

  • Constituency: Baharampur, West Bengal
  • Party: Trinamool Congress (TMC)
  • Opponent Defeated: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Indian National Congress)
  • Victory Margin: 85,038 votes
  • Date of Clarification: Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Pathan's entry into politics and subsequent victory drew considerable attention, given his background as a decorated cricketer who was part of India's T20 World Cup-winning squad in 2007 and the Cricket World Cup-winning team in 2011. His transition from sports to parliamentary duties is now officially underway, following the clearing of these recent rumors.

With this clarification, Yusuf Pathan is expected to fully assume his responsibilities as a Member of Parliament, representing the Baharampur constituency in the 18th Lok Sabha. The statement from the MP seeks to conclude the period of speculation and allow him to focus on his legislative role within the Indian Parliament.