Azhar dismisses match-fixing scam as non-issue

With rival parties raking up the match-fixing scandal against him, former Indian skipper and Congress candidate from here Mohammed Azharuddin today asserted that it was "not an issue" in the polls.  

"This (match-fixing scandal) will not be an issue in the elections here and we are not interested in this issue," Azhar told PTI while meeting local Congress workers for the first time in his constituency.  

His local political opponents have started raising this issue ever since his candidature was announced by Congress from the Moradabad seat.  On the issue of being an outsider, Azhar said that the tag will "not hurt" his poll prospects.  

"Outsider tag will not hurt me during the elections as a lot of people come from outside and do very good work and I hope to do the same," he said.  Azhar said his stint on the cricket field was an "added advantage" in reaching out to the people in his constituency.  

"It does help because it is easier for me to reach to people and it is not difficult to get introduced to them.I have the added advantage but I really need to work hard to win the seat last won by Congress over 25 years ago," he said.

The former cricket captain is banking on his association with the game to strike a chord with the local youngsters besides planning to visit local cricket academies to urge players to support him, local Congress leaders said.  

Terming politics as an "uphill task", Azharrudin said, "here (in politics) you get to know and see the problems of the people of the people. It is an uphill task but I think nothing is impossible if you work hard and work for the upliftment of the downtrodden".  

On the response to his road shows and public meetings, Azhar said, "Response has been quite fabulous. I never expected the response that I got but I think people would be in a better position to answer that question.  

Azhar said his wife and former film actress Sangeeta Bijlani would also be joining him during the campaign.  

His two sons from his first wife are also expected to join his campaign trail after their school session is over, local Congress leaders said.