The Election Commission (EC) has instructed former cricketer Yusuf Pathan, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate from Baharampur, West Bengal, to refrain from using images of the Indian cricket team’s 2011 World Cup victory and the national flag in his Lok Sabha election campaign.
This decision follows a complaint filed by the state Congress, alleging that Pathan’s use of photographs featuring Sachin Tendulkar and other cricketers in his campaign violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
Sources within the office of the chief electoral officer (CEO) in West Bengal revealed that the EC conducted a thorough review of the complaint and found it to be valid. Consequently, the EC directed Pathan to dismantle all posters and images related to the 2011 World Cup displayed in the Baharampur constituency. Additionally, Pathan was instructed not to incorporate the national flag in his campaign materials.
In response to these directives, TMC workers initiated the removal of such posters on Friday night.
In a letter addressed to the West Bengal CEO earlier this week, the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee demanded stringent action against Pathan, citing the use of 2011 World Cup-winning team visuals as a blatant violation of the MCC.
Bengal Congress president and Baharampur candidate Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury criticized Pathan for allegedly portraying the national cricket team’s victory as his own achievement through these photographs.
Pathan defended his actions, stating that he did not personally install the posters but acknowledged that his supporters may have done so. He emphasized his hard work in winning the World Cup.
The Lok Sabha elections in Baharampur are scheduled for May 13, during the fourth phase of polling, with the results set to be announced on June 4.