Delhi Speaker Ram Niwas Goel quits electoral politics
New Delhi (PTI): Outgoing Delhi Assembly Speaker and sitting AAP MLA from Shahdara Ram Niwas Goel has quit electoral politics citing his old age.
Kejriwal in a post on X termed Goel's decision an emotional moment.
The elections for the 70-member Delhi Assembly is due to be held in February 2025.
Goel, 76, has been the Speaker of Delhi Assembly since 2015 and a two-time MLA from the Shahdara constituency in East Delhi.
In his letter to Kejriwal, dated November 11, Goel said he discharged his responsibilities as Shahdara MLA and Speaker of the Assembly for ten years and received a lot of respect for which he was thankful to him.
"Due to age, I want to separate myself from electoral politics. I want to assure you to keep on serving by all means remaining in the Aam Aadmi Party. I will try to fulfil any responsibility given by you to me," he said in his letter.
Kejriwal said Goel's guidance drove the party in the right direction for years.
"...Recently he expressed his wish to separate from electoral politics due to his growing age and health. We respect his decision," Kejriwal said in his post.
He will remain a guardian of the AAP family, the former Delhi chief minister added.
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Pakistan minister heading Asian cricket body, BCCI likely to withdraw from Asia Cup: Report
New Delhi: Following the recent escalation in India-Pakistan hostilities, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly set to withdraw from upcoming Asian Cricket Council (ACC) tournaments. The ACC is currently headed by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The BCCI has informed the ACC about its decision to withdraw from the Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Sri Lanka next month and from the biennial Men’s Asia Cup in September, as reported by The Indian Express on Monday.
A BCCI source told the news outlet that the Indian team cannot take part in a tournament overseen by the ACC, which is currently headed by a Pakistani minister. “That’s the sentiment of the nation. We have verbally communicated to ACC about our withdrawal from the upcoming Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, and our future participation in their events too is on hold. We are in constant touch with the Indian government,” TIE quoted the source as saying.
This development casts serious doubt over the Men’s Asia Cup that India was to host in September.
The BCCI reportedly believes that an Asia Cup without India's participation would be commercially unviable. Given India's major role in global cricket viewership and sponsorship, particularly the high-stakes India-Pakistan fixtures, the absence of the Indian team would significantly diminish broadcaster interest and financial backing.
