Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress party in Kerala took aim at the ruling BJP, accusing them of attempting to politicize cricket and demean the sport.
On May 9, the official Twitter account of Kerala Congress shared a post drawing a parallel between the ruling government and cricket achievements. They highlighted India's successful cricketing history during Congress governance, urging voters to reflect on the nation's World Cup victories.
The post from Congress Kerala emphasized the pride taken by the then Congress-led government in India's triumphs in the 1983 and 2011 Cricket World Cups, refraining from claiming it as a political victory.
While some questioned the connection between cricket and politics, the party's message emphasized: "We didn't select the team, the selection committee consisting of world-class players did. We never branded it as our government's victory, but the team's and people of India's!"
The post pointed out that both World Cup wins occurred under Congress governance, contrasting with the absence of such victories during BJP's tenure. Congress Kerala accused the BJP of attempting to politicize cricket and undermining the sport.
The party's criticism extended to the recent Cricket World Cup held at the Narendra Modi stadium, where the team was reportedly handpicked by Jay Shah. The Congress sarcastically referred to Shah as the "greatest cricketer," while subtly alluding to his father Amit Shah and his political ties with PM Modi.
The post garnered mixed reactions from netizens. While some criticized Congress for intertwining cricket achievements with politics, others supported their perspective. Certain individuals defended the party by recalling past criticisms directed at PM Narendra Modi.