In a sudden development former India footballer Mehtab Hussain pulled out of the BJP a day after joining the party amid allegations that he had been pressurized by the TMC to quit the saffron outfit.
“Withdrawing from politics” Hussain a fiery midfielder who had his stints with Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and other clubs too said “I had joined the BJP yesterday but when I returned home my relatives, near and dear ones and my fans expressed their displeasure about my joining politics. They said that they want me to see me in the field and not in the politics and so I could not refuse their requests.” When asked as to whether he received threats from Bengal ruling outfit he said he had not been pressurised by anyone.
Hussain had joined the BJP in presence of senior State leaders on Tuesday along with some other luminaries.
Reacting to the development State BJP president Dilip Ghosh said, “Mehtab had joined the BJP after much thought and consultation and so there was no reason why he should have left the party like this… we have reports that the local toughs from the TMC have threatened him to quit the party.”