In a surprising turn of events, Yusuf Pathan, the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate and erstwhile Indian cricketer, triumphed over the seasoned Indian National Congress (INC) parliamentarian, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. Pathan secured a commendable 4,76,913 votes, outstripping Chowdhury, who garnered 4,03,651 votes.

Chowdhury, a formidable and influential figure in West Bengal’s political theatre, has a storied legacy, having been elected thrice consecutively from 2009 to 2019 as a Congress party representative. In the 2019 elections, he vanquished TMC’s Apurba Sarkar by a notable margin of 80,696 votes. Significantly, Chowdhury was the sole Congress Member of Parliament (MP) from West Bengal in the 17th Lok Sabha.

Moreover, the current West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) President had also been a member of the West Bengal Assembly from 1996 to 1999. His tenure as Minister of State for Railways in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government from 2012 to 2014 further underscored his political acumen and influence.

This defeat marks an unprecedented setback for Chowdhury, as it is his first loss in the Lok Sabha elections. Conversely, Yusuf Pathan made an indelible mark in his inaugural political contest, representing the TMC from the Baharampur constituency. The former cricketer’s debut in the political arena was nothing short of spectacular, as he unseated a political titan like Chowdhury.

Pathan, known for his aggressive batting style, represented India in 57 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 22 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). His emphatic victory signals a promising commencement to his political journey.