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Second innings: Cricket great Sachin Tendulkar is ECI’s national icon
NEW DELHI: Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who sent shivers down the spine of his enemies on the ground during his 24-year-long professional career, has decided to take on India’s another long-time enemy: low voter turnout.
On a slow rainy day in capital New Delhi, Tendulkar – who has served as a Member of Rajya Sabha – signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with India’s election watchdog to be its “national icon” for voter awareness for a period of three years.
“In the second innings of my life, I will continue to bat for India,” the Master Blaster declared at the jam-packed auditorium of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
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A recipient of India’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna, Tendulkar said he has exercised his franchise in every Indian election. “Anjali and I vote in every election, but it was a touching moment when Sara (daughter) and Arjun (son) joined us in voting,” he told the audience.
Appealing to fellow Indians, he sought the same cooperation and support from the masses which he received during his cricketing career. “I have had the honour of representing the nation. Unbelievable experience! People felt it is their responsibility to stand with us, in the ups and downs. I would also ask them to feel the same for voting. We all want good things to happen to our nation but it will require effort, a collective effort.”
“The easiest thing is to point fingers but if we have to move forward as a nation each of us have to take responsibility,” he pointed out.
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Speaking on the occasion, chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that the poll body expects a substantial jump in voter turnout in the coming Assembly and the next year’s general election.
On the occasion, the commission also unveiled its election tagline ‘Nothing Like Voting, I Vote For Sure’ and the theme song ‘Mein Bharat Hu, Bharat Hai Mujhme’.
Actor Pankaj Tripathi was ECI’s national icon for 2022. Earlier, stalwarts like cricketer MS Dhoni, actor Aamir Khan and Olympian Mary Kom had been the ECI national icon.
