Gautam Gambhir joins BJP; expected to contest from New Delhi seat

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 22

Cricketer Gautam Gambhir on Friday joined the BJP in the presence of Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley here.

“We are now a cadre-based mass party,” Jaitley said while making the announcement. “While the cadres also reach a position in the party, including those who have made an impact in other fields is also a policy of the party,” he said.

Gambhir had been a part of Delhi for long, he went to school and college here and represented the state in domestic and international arena, he said.

Calling it an important induction, Jailtey welcomed Gambhir into the party. “We hope that he will benefit the party greatly,” Jaitley said.

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Gambhir was greatly influenced by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Gambhir also reiterated that he was influenced by Modi’s vision.

On whether he would contest from the New Delhi seat as was being widely speculated, Jaitley said the decision should be left on the party and its Central Election Committee.

He had not been a Pakistan sympathiser even as a cricketer, Jaitley said.

Meanwhile, the minister also slammed Sam Pitroda for his comments.