Cricketer Dinesh Mongia begins new innings, joins BJP

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 28

After a significant stint in cricket, former international all-rounder Dinesh Mongia has started a new innings by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in New Delhi today.

Mongia is perhaps the first cricketer born in Chandigarh who joined a national political party. He had coached teams of the UT Education Department, colleges and clubs in Chandigarh for several years now. He was recently appointed as the head coach of the Arunachal Pradesh cricket team for the upcoming season.

The 44-year-old former all-rounder is also a life member of the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA), from where he started his career.

“It’s a completely new innings. I hope to give my best in politics too. There were no such plans to join active politics. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision on nation’s development attracted me,” said Mongia, who took a primary membership of the nation’s ruling party in the presence of the party’s Punjab in-charge Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

Rumours were doing the rounds that he would contest the Assembly elections from Punjab. However, Mongia denied any such development.

“There are no plans as of now. No discussion took place in this regard (contesting elections). I was impressed by the vision of ‘sabka sath, sabka vikas’. So, I decided to join the party,” he said.

Asked if he was approached by any other political group from Punjab, Mongia refused to comment.

The former left-handed cricketer, who was also a part of the 2003 Indian World Cup team that finished runners-up, is a well-known face among residents. He has been active in cricket coaching and announced his retirement from all formats in 2019. He represented the PCA by starting his U-19 career in October 1995. He made first-class debut in February 1996. After six years, he made his debut for the Indian team against Australia in 2001 in Pune. He ended his career with an aggregate of 57 ODIs and one T20 international.

‘Hope to give my best in politics too’

It’s a completely new innings. I hope to give my best in politics too. There were no such plans to join active politics. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision on nation’s development attracted me. — Dinesh Mongia, former international all-rounder