Gujarat government sets up a deal: half the land as a “gift” for the cricketer-turned-politician, the other half at a fixed price
Vadodara: A piece of land next to the Pathan family home in Vadodara, which Yusuf Pathan has wanted for more than a decade, is finally set to become his. The decision comes just months after the cricketer-turned-politician changed his political side.
The plot, measuring around 1,000 square metres, lies next to the Pathan family house in the Tandalja area of Vadodara. Yusuf and his brother Irfan live in the house with their families and parents.
A Long Fight Over the Land
Pathan first asked for the plot in 2012. At that time, he was an international cricketer, and he said he needed the land for security reasons. The request led to years of legal and administrative disputes.
NDTV has now learnt that the state administration has worked out a framework to settle the matter. According to government sources, the arrangement has been approved at the executive level and is described as a “structured compromise.”
How the Deal Works
Under the arrangement, Pathan will receive half the plot as a “gift” from the government. For the other half, he will pay a fixed amount.
Official guidelines say that half of the plot’s value will be covered under special welfare policies meant for distinguished international sportspersons who have represented the country from Gujarat. In simple terms, the state is using a sports-related benefit scheme to cover part of the cost.
The Political Switch
The land decision follows a major political move by Pathan. In June this year, soon after the West Bengal Assembly results, he was one of 20 Trinamool Congress MPs who rebelled against party chief Mamata Banerjee. The group merged with a little-known party, the NCPI, and joined the NDA bloc in Parliament.
Pathan had won the Berhampur Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal in 2024 as a Trinamool candidate.
Why It Matters
The timing of the decision, coming shortly after Pathan moved to the NDA, is likely to draw attention. Supporters of the arrangement may point to the welfare policy for sportspersons as the basis for the decision. Others may question why a request pending since 2012 has been settled only now.
The reports do not say that the land decision is linked to his political switch. They only note that the two events happened within months of each other.
What Next
Official details such as the exact amount Pathan will pay have not been made public in the information available so far. The final transfer of the land is expected to follow the approved framework.
Quick Glossary
- NDA: The National Democratic Alliance, the group of parties led by the BJP.
- Trinamool Congress (TMC): The West Bengal party led by Mamata Banerjee.
- Executive arrangement: A decision taken by the government without needing a new law.
- Welfare policy for sportspersons: A government scheme that offers benefits to athletes who have represented the country.
