“Need to focus on cricket commitments”: BJP MP Gautam Gambhir requests party president JP Nadda to relieve him from his electoral duties

Gautam Gambhir, the BJP MP from Delhi East on Saturday requested party President JP Nadda to “relieve” him from his electoral duties so that he can focus on his upcoming cricket commitments. Gautam Gambhir’s announcement comes amidst speculations of the BJP high command wanting to field fresh faces from Delhi in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.

Taking to social media platform “X”, the cricketer-turned-MP floated his request asking for a release from his electoral duties to BJP President JP Nadda. “I have requested Hon’ble Party President @JPNadda ji to relieve me of my political duties so that I can focus on my upcoming cricket commitments. I sincerely thank Hon’ble PM @narendramodi ji and Hon’ble HM @AmitShah ji for giving me the opportunity to serve the people. Jai Hind!” posted the Delhi East MP.

This announcement comes at a time when speculations of the Bharatiya Janata Party wanting to replace some of its sitting MLAs in Delhi ahead of the all-important 2024 Lok Sabha elections are rife. BJP fielded Gautam Gambhir from the East Delhi seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the cricketer defeated Congress’s Arvinder Singh Lovely by a margin of over 55% of votes.

The Aam Admi Party hit out at the BJP over the cricketer’s request, stating that the saffron party’s MPs have “remained missing” from their duties. “Gautam Gambhir ji has not done a single work in 5 years, 7 BJP MPs have remained missing. BJP first gives ticket to a useless person, who does not work for the public, then brings a new candidate after 5 years. I challenge BJP to tell me even one thing that their MPs have done,” said senior AAP leader Atishi.​