New Delhi, April 22: Days after inducting him into partyfold, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday announced former cricketer Gautam Gambhir as its candidate from the East Delhi constituency in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2019. Apart from Gambhir, senior party leader and incumbent lawmaker from New Delhi, has been given the ticket from her current seat.

The list of two BJP candidates came hours after the Congress revealed its aspirants from 6 out of 7 parliamentary segments in the national capital. Among those fielded include former chief minister Sheila Dikshit and former party state unit chief Ajay Maken. From the one seat where the party is yet to name its candidate - South Delhi - speculations are rife that boxer Vijender Singh could be fielded from the Haryana-bordering constituency. 

Gambhir to Open Innings With a Sixer?

The East Delhi seat was won by the BJP in 2014 with a decisive mandate. The party had then fielded Maheish Girri. Reports claimed that the party's cadre had marked grievances against the lawmaker, which compelled the top brass to look for a new candidate.

Gambhir, who began as a cricketer for Delhi and went to become part of the 2011 World Cup winning Indian squad, is highly popular in the national capital. Pollsters, however, are unsure whether he could be striking a chord with the electorate in his opening bout.

Ahead of his official induction into the BJP last month, Gambhir has remained in news for his controversial tweets targeting the mainstream politicians of Jammu & Kashmir.

After he took the political plunge, Gambhir was locked in a heated verbal duel with former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti, over the issue involving Article 370 and Article 35-A. Before blocking the former Indian opener, the PDP chief said she hopes that Gambhir's political innings with the BJP is not as "abysmal" as his cricketing career.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 22, 2019 10:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).