Even during his playing days, Kirti Azad was known for his flamboyance and ability to pick ball early. His blazing 71 against Pakistan in an exhibition game in Delhi made him a household star.
His cricketing career was short, but his political career afterwards has spread over many a decade. Despite being three-time MP from Darbhanga in Bihar, Azad was unfortunate to be denied a chance to become minister in Modi govt. And it is no secret that it was at the behest of Arun Jaitley, against whom Azad was running a crusade in Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA).
Now after shifting to Team Congress, he still failed to get a chance to represent his old constituency for the fourth time. But being an old student of cricket where he learned 'sportsmanship', Azad has taken it in stride and is contesting Jharkhand's Dhanbad.
Kirti Azad spoke exclusively to DNA. Excerpts:
Having spent 26 years in BJP, and having to switch to Congress...how you feel?
26 years is a long time in a person's life and spans a very challenging period. For me it was no different. After my career in cricket, a political career beckoned me. My father was a freedom fighter and had been an integral part of the freedom struggle. He was a veteran Congressman and a Union minister and later, CM of unified Bihar. While I could have joined Congress straightaway, Atalji and Advani offered me the opportunity to work in BJP. At that time BJP had only two MPs in Lok Sabha and efforts were being made to reclaim the Opposition space. I went on to become one of its six star campaigners.
How you feel about shifting to a new constituency, that too in Jharkhand?
Like in cricket, you do not choose your wicket but have to adapt to the team's needs. Darbhanga seat had gone to RJD in 'mahagathbandhan' quota. Then the party decided to field me from Dhanbad. I am happy with it. I've worked in Bokaro Steel Plant for 11 years when I was playing cricket, and have happy memories of Bokaro and Dhanbad.
How do you see Cong chances in this LS polls?
Congress is extremely upbeat despite the untruths being peddled by BJP on a daily basis. Mahagathbandhan will definitely form the next government and Congress' tally will prove decisive in its formation. Rahul Gandhi will have an important role in government formation and is set to become the next Prime Minister.
How do you rate NDA govt & PM's performance?
BJP has hardly delivered on their tall promises made before 2014 elections. Not one promise has been delivered. Two-and-a-half men are running the government.
You have a special relati-onship with Jaitley as well?
I only know he has no knowledge about economics. That's why, perhaps, he was not kept in loop before announcing the demonetisation. He has become a master blogger, writing blogs when he is in extremely frail health.
You had taken up a crus-ade against graft in cricket
I had provided hundreds of RTIs and copies of reports indicting DDCA which had seen hundreds of crores being siphoned off by DDCA office-bears and employees when Arun Jaitley was president of DDCA for nearly 15 years. Rather than pursuing the reports of auditors and ex-Judges efforts have been made by this govt to whitewash the loot.
