Cricketer Praveen Kumar joins SP: Likely to contest assy polls

11 September, Lucknow

eam India discard and bowler Praveen Kumar today started his new innings in politics by joining the ruling Samajawadi Party here Sunday.

Praveen, who is expected to contest the coming Assembly elections from some seats in Meerut his home town, took the primary membership of the SP from chief minister and state party president Akhilesh Yadav here today.

Praveen, talking to reporters said that he is new to politics and will try to learn the tactic and other things to become a good politicians like a cricketer. The cricketer said that he was not at all interested in contesting Assembly polls.

“I have joined the SP by getting impressed with the work of the young chief minister particularly his dedication to promote sports and sportsperson,” Praveen said while adding that the recent awards to sportsperson in the state was a good gesture.

Praveen, could be the fifth cricketer after Jyoti Yadav, Mohammad Kaif, Azaharuddin and Chetan Chauhan to try their luck in the politics from Uttar Pradesh.

Though Azahurddin and Chetan Chauhan were successful in becoming MP from Congress and BJP respectively but Jyoti Yadav from SP and Mohammad Kaif from Congress were failures.

Praveen is out of the Indian team since past four years and he played for the country last time in 2012.