While his sudden decision to join politics had shocked his family and fans, his announcement on Facebook a day later to quit politics has left the saffron party shocked and red-faced.
Clarion India
KOLKATA — Former Indian footballer Mehtab Hossain, popularly known as ‘Midfield General’ in West Bengal, has quit politics just a day after joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Wednesday morning, Hossain, who has played for East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and the national team, went to Facebook and wrote: “I had joined politics because I wanted to stand beside the people who have made me whatever I am today… However, the same people urged me not to get involved in politics directly.”
Only on Tuesday, the former East Bengal captain was handed the BJP flag by state party president Dilip Ghosh amid chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.”
While his sudden decision to join politics had shocked his family and fans, his announcement on Facebook a day later to quit politics has left the saffron party shocked and red-faced.
In his Facebook post, Hossain wrote: “I am not associated with any political party from today. I apologise to all my well-wishers for this decision of mine.”
The flip-flop by the former footballer has left the ball of politics rolling between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and opposition BJP which is desperate to unseat Mamata Banerjee.
The state BJP has blamed “pressure” from TMC for Hossain’s sudden U-turn to quit politics but the ruling party has rubbished the charge.
“No one has forced me to take this decision. This is completely my personal decision to stay away from politics,” said Hossain.
“This (quitting the BJP) was absolutely a personal decision,” Moumita Hossain, Mehtab’s wife, told The Telegraph.