In India, it is not unusual for political party representatives to hold key positions in sports associations. However, a new trend has emerged in Chandigarh where political parties are actively using sports as a medium to connect with the masses. This approach is gaining momentum, with events like the Gully Cricket Tournament and the newly launched Khelo Chandigarh initiative.
Gully Cricket Tournament: A Popular Platform
The Gully Cricket Tournament, held annually under the patronage of a local cricket association and the Chandigarh Police, aims to steer youth away from drugs and towards sports. The event has garnered significant attention and support from sponsors and various departments of the Chandigarh Administration. The tournament is supervised by its chairman, Sanjay Tandon, a former BJP city chief who lost the last Lok Sabha election to current MP Manish Tewari. The grand opening ceremony took place at the Sector 16 cricket stadium, attended by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and top UT Administration officials. The closing ceremony featured Saudan Singh, who holds multiple organizational roles in both the BJP and RSS, along with the UT Administrator.
Khelo Chandigarh: A New Initiative
Khelo Chandigarh, another sports event, was launched on the Panjab University campus by the Chandigarh BJP leadership in the presence of top university officials. This tournament includes competitions in football, basketball, kabaddi, rugby, netball, volleyball, judo, karate, table tennis, and track and field events. The BJP sports cell convenor, Paramjit Singh Lamba, stated, “The main motive of the BJP sports cell is to promote sports among the youth and to make them spend their evenings working hard on their physical fitness. It’s a way to stop the youth from taking drugs, and also to make them aware about benefits of playing even after finishing their schools.”
Political Backing and Participation
Interestingly, while some sports associations struggle to host even a single event in a year, these political-backed tournaments witness huge participation from players, officials, associations, and government departments. A coach, whose two teams are participating in Khelo Chandigarh, remarked, “These days, sports is the safest way to connect with the masses. A latest example is when some local associations were struggling to get government school grounds for running their operations, but with the help of political backing, they have now a chance of getting the same.”
The trend highlights how political parties, particularly the BJP, are adopting sports as a modern tool for mass outreach, combining youth engagement with anti-drug campaigns. The success of these events underscores the potential of sports as a unifying and motivating force in the community.
