Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif is all excited these days. After strutting his stuff on the cricket pitch, the one-time star is keen on making a mark as a politician. A day after being announced as the Congress party's Lok Sabha candidate from the historical Phulpur constituency graced by none other than Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Kaif told dna that he was up for it.
"Entering politics was always on my mind. I come from a small city (Allahabad) and have wanted to give something back to the society. Now, I have got the right opportunity. This is a big challenge," he said on Sunday. "I was not sure (about contesting), entering when but when I met Rahul-ji (Gandhi), I realised it was time. After all, the Congress party thinks about the youth," he added.
So why did he choose Congress? "My family has always been pro-Congress because of their work ethic, family background and the way they have run the country for the last 120 years. Whether I win or lose I will be with Congress," he said. "I come from Allahabad and Phulpur is not very far from here. I have my people there and it's a nice place. I usually go there to meet my relatives," he added.
Kaif sees a lot of similarities between cricket and politics. "My experience of playing cricket will help me survive in politics. For starters, winning and losing is part of both careers. Just like you fight back after one bad day on the field, you have to be mentally mentally strong in politics, too. There have been many issues like water, electricity, houses, medicines, hospitals, etc, but I want to solve deep-rooted problems of the people. I have met my people and they have a lot of issues. And I will try to solve them," he said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Mohammad-Kaif")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}