Gurdaspur bypoll: Cong woos Yuvraj

Chandigarh, August 19

The name of cricketer Yuvraj Singh is doing the rounds as a probable Congress candidate for the Gurdaspur byelection to be held later this year.

Sources in the Congress say Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh is keen on fielding the cricketer, considered a youth icon. The preliminary talks for fielding Yuvraj have been held between cricketer’s relatives and the Chief Minister.

Capt Amarinder floated the idea to Yuvraj of contesting the byelection. Sources, however, claim the cricketer has not made up his mind as he believes he still has a few years in the sport.

Political advisers to the CM are putting pressure on Yuvraj through a dera head to enter politics. The cricketer is a firm believer of this dera.

This is not the first time that the Congress has asked a sports star to contest elections. Earlier this year, the party wooed veteran cricketer Harbhajan Singh to contest the Assembly elections. The talks, however, did not materialise. — TNS