The Hindu : National : Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s elder brother joins BJP, starts campaign in Ranchi

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Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s elder brother joins BJP, starts campaign in Ranchi

RANCHI: Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s elder brother, Narendra Dhoni, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday and started campaigning for the party’s candidate in the Jharkhand capital, Ranchi.

The elder Dhoni joined the BJP at a simple ceremony at the party’s State head office in the afternoon. “I joined the BJP as I am influenced by the ideology of L.K. Advani and the party. The purpose in joining the BJP is to serve the interests of the people of the State,” he told reporters.

Mr. Narendra Dhoni also praised former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Cashing in on Dhoni

Attempting to cash in on the popularity of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is a resident of the Jharkhand capital, the BJP has started using Mr. Narendra Dhoni in the campaign, with him addressing two small rallies and participating in a road show in Ranchi.

To counter Congress

According to party sources, Dhoni’s brother will be used to counter the Congress, which has roped in Bollywoood actress Mahima Chaudhary, yesteryear star Zeenat Aman and others in its campaign in the State.

“Narendra Dhoni could work for the party in election campaigns in other Lok Sabha constituencies also.

“We will work out the campaign after consulting him and party leaders,” Pradeep Sinha, BJP’s election media cell in-charge, told Indo-Asian News Service. — IANS

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