Yousuf Pathan, the Trinamool Congress candidate for the Behrampore parliamentary constituency, received a cumulative sum of ₹50,000 from 50 women hailing from several villages and are beneficiaries of the state government-run social welfare scheme Lakshmir Bhandar.

These women, who contributed ₹1,000 each, decided to dedicate their monthly stipend to support the former Indian cricketer in his electoral campaign.

Pathan, who was visibly pleased with the gift, said the gesture served as a token of encouragement for him in his endeavour to contest against the invincible Congress candidate, Adhir Chowdhury.

“I am overwhelmed. They made me feel that I am one of them. This will increase
my responsibility and will encourage me to fight for these people,” Pathan, who is originally from Gujarat and has been at the receiving end of the Congress’ outsider attack, said.

Pathan received the funds prior to his road show that commenced at 4 pm on Friday from the Katabagan football ground. The 50 women — including Marjina Biwi, 35, from Hazipara village, Khalida Biwi, 42, from Udainagar village, and Shayamali Hazra, 35 — approached Pathan one by one to hand over the amounts.

“The road show commenced at Katabagan football ground and traversed through 15 villages, spanning a distance of approximately 20km. The rally concluded at Chunakhali village,” said Trinamool Congress MLA from Kandi, Apurba Sarkar, who accompanied Pathan throughout the event.

“This is a token of respect to the man who has come all the way from Gujarat to fight for us. I want to encourage him and so I contributed my earnings from Lakshmir Bhandar to him,” Marjina Biwi said.

Pathan was also accompanied by Trinamool Congress’s Beldanga MLA Hasanuzzaman and Behrampur panchayat samity chief Aijuddin Mondal.

Behrampore votes on May 13