Sreesanth, Bhaichung Lose Elections; India Needs New Sports Min

Among the many winners, 2 sportsmen lost in Bengal, Kerala and India will now start the search for a new Sports Min

Sarbananda Sonowal will be elected the next Assam CM while S Sreesanth and Bhaichung Bhutia lost the elections from their constituencies. (Photo: PTI and IANS)

The future of five states, at least for the next five years, was decided on Thursday, with ‘counting day’ starting early. Mamata Bannerjee’s loyals, Assam’s Congress love and Kerala’s UDF-ness was on the line as votes were counted and victors were declared.

Among the many names to finish in the losers column – a certain former cricketer and a former football captain.

Speaking of losses, India seems to have also lost their Union Minister of State with Sarbananada Sonowal giving up his old designation to be become Assam’s new Chief Minister.

Here’s the complete lowdown.

Bhaichung Bhutia – Siliguri

Finished second with 63,982 votes

India’s most successful football captain Bhaichung Bhutia failed once again in his attempt to convert his success on the football greens in the form of votes.

Having lost the Lok Sabha polls to BJP’s SS Ahluwalia in the 2014 General Elections, Bhaichung was up against Siliguri Mayor and former Left Front Minister Ashok Bhattacharya in these Assembly Elections from the Siliguri seat.

The Quint caught up with the 39-year-old during his campaign trail in April. When asked why he chose to contest from a TMC seat, his answer was simple – “It was the first party that approached me”.

A fan of Mamata’s politics, Bhaichung, however, seemed he was open to a switch and it may as well become a need for the 39-year-old if he’s to keep his political dreams alive. A ‘hill face’ on a TMC seat was always going to be a tough task, even if his opponent did not come with a reputation like Bhattacharya’s.

S Sreesanth – Thiruvananthapuram

Finished third with 34,764 votes

Part of the 2011 ICC World Cup winning Indian Cricket Team, BJP went for the ‘star-factor’ as well when handing a ticket to Shanthakumaran Sreesanth for his first assembly elections.

If the party’s historic lack of support in Kerala wasn’t a roadblock enough, Sreesanth also had hanging to his name a certain ‘match-fixer’ tag, courtesy the 2013 IPL controversy involving him, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila. Though the Delhi High Court has exonerated him in the matter, his refusal to appeal to the BCCI against the life ban imposed by them still leaves a large cloud of doubt over his name.

A doubt that may well have accounted for his defeat.

Laxmi Ratan Shukla – Howrah North

Won by 26,959 votes

Laxmi Ratan Shukla during his campaigning days with TMC President Mamata Bannerjee. (Photo: IANS)

The one sportsperson who did manage ride on the TMC wave, which will see Mamata take oath on the 27 May, is Laxmi Ratan Shukla. He bagged the seat from Howrah North.

A former Indian cricketer (for 3 matches) who played IPL for the local Kolkata Knight Riders and even won the title in 2012, Shukla retired last year to make the switch to politics. With veteran actor Roopa Ganguly also vying for the seat, the TMC man ended up facing competition from Santosh Kumar Pathak of the Congress instead, still winning with a total of 61,917 votes.

Sarbananda Sonowal – Assam’s Next CM

India’s Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Sarbananda Sonowal had a fight on his hands when he was declared the BJP’s Chief Ministerial designate in Assam. The party had failed to unseat Congress from the state for the last 15 years and most people thought the Sports Minister would remain put past May as well.

Come counting day and it isn’t just Congress that’s been left wondering what’s next. It’s the Olympics year, and with constant preparatory controversies, (read: Sushil Kumar) the country now looks like it has to find a new Sports Minister while Assam gets a brand new Chief Minister.

Speaking to The Quint on his campaign trail last month, Sonowal had said he would continue extending support to his now former wards.

I am a great supporter of sports and I will continue to support sportsmen and women even if I am elected the CM.

Sarbananda Sonowal