Kolkata: Cricketer and former Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary joined Trinamool Congress ahead of the assembly election in West Bengal. On the same day, in the evening, Ashok Dinda – who retired from all forms of cricket on February 2, 2021 – joined BJP.
Tiwary has played for the national side in T20 and one-day matches. Dinda is a celebrated bowler and has played for India, Bengal and Goa. Both have played in the Indian Premier League.
Tiwary had recently struck a distinct chord on Twitter when he had criticised Indian sportspersons for tweeting in unison against international support to the farmers’ protest, following the Ministry of External Affairs’ claim that these were ‘internal affairs’.
When I was a kid, I never saw a puppet show. It took me 35 years to see one 😊 pic.twitter.com/AMCGIZMfGN
— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) February 4, 2021
“A new journey begins from today. Need all your love and support,” Tiwary tweeted, introducing his Instagram profile on Wednesday, February 24.
The profile on Instagram to which Tiwary has linked says in the space for a bio: “Politician | AITMC | Proud Indian | Joy Bangla!”
Tiwary joined TMC in the presence of West Bengal chief minister and party chief Mamata Banerjee at Hooghly’s Sahaganj.
Tiwary is prolific on Twitter and comments on a wide range of issues. He was also among a few cricketers who tweeted in support of Wasim Jaffer when the Uttarakhand cricket board alleged that he had been communal in his approach.
I would request the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand (BJP) Mr.Trivendra Singh Rawat 2 intervene immediately nd take note of the issue in which our National hero Wasim bhai was branded as communal in the Cricket Association nd take necessary action.Time 2 Set an example #WasimJaffer pic.twitter.com/ZPcusxuo7v
— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) February 11, 2021
Local Bengali media has speculated that Tiwary may be drawing curtains upon his sports career with the move. Anandabazar Patrika has quoted Tiwary as having said, “I am not thinking about cricket right now, to be honest. The condition of my knee is not too good.”
In 2011, reportedly, Tiwary had been asked by Banerjee to join TMC. He had then refused.
Tiwary’s arrival to TMC follows the departure from the party, in January, of another cricketer and former Bengal minister Laxmi Ratan Shukla.
Note: This article has been updated with the news of Ashok Dinda joining BJP.