Bengaluru, September 22: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) working president Jay Prakash Nadda on Sunday met former Indian cricket team captain Rahul Dravid at the latter's residence in Bengaluru. The meeting was part of the ruling BJP's "Sampark Se Samarthan Abhiyan" -- a campaign to reach out to influential personalities in various walks of life and present them a report card on the achievements of the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre so far. Amit Shah Meets MS Dhoni As Part Of 'Sampark For Samarthan' Initiative.

Dravid, one of the most popular cricketing icons of India, has so far remained apolitical in public life. The sportster has not overtly or covertly expressed his political leanings or ideological affiliations.

The meeting comes weeks ahead of a crucial 15-seat by-elections in Karnataka. The bypolls, to be held on October 21, may decide the fate of the nascent BJP government in the state led by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa.

To secure a single-party majority, the BJP is required to win 7 out of the 15 constituencies which are going to the polls. In what is likely to boost the party's prospects, the erstwhile ruling coalition partners - Congress and the JD(S) - have broken their alliance ahead of the bypolls.

Update by ANI:

At the meeting, Nadda was joined by top BJP leaders in Karnataka including Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers, DV Sadananda Gowda.

Dravid, popularly referred to as "The Wall" for his invincible defensive batting skills, retired from international cricket in 2012. He is not the first top cricketer to be reached out by the BJP for its support campaign. Last year, a delegation of BJP leaders led by party chief Amit Shah had similarly reached out to former Indian skipper MS Dhoni.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 22, 2019 04:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).