‘Want to focus on cricket’: Gautam Gambhir asks BJP to relieve him of political duties

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliament member (MP) and cricketer Gautam Gambhir, who represents the East Delhi constituency in the Lok Sabha, has requested the party's national president, JP Nadda, to relieve him of his political duties, the Hindustan Times reported.

Gambhir said he intends to focus on his cricket commitments instead. However, it remains unclear if Gambhir plans to quit politics or not.

He shared the update on X, writing, "I have requested Hon’ble Party President JP Nadda ji to relieve me of my political duties so that I can focus on my upcoming cricket commitments. I sincerely thank Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi ji and Hon’ble HM Amit Shah ji for allowing me to serve the people. Jai Hind!"

There have been speculations that the BJP might replace some of the seven current MPs in Delhi with new faces for the upcoming general elections.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had replaced two sitting Delhi MPs from the North West and East.

Gambhir joined the BJP before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and contested from the East Delhi Lok Sabha seat, winning with more than 55% of votes. He defeated his closest rival, Congress candidate Arvinder Singh Lovely.