Another sportsman enters cesspool of politics

Chennai, Apr 17 (UNI) A D Senthureeswaran, who represented the country in various international level basketball competitions, will be among many first timers seeking to make a mark as an MLA, avowedly aiming to serve the masses and downtrodden, in the May eight Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Mr Senthureeswaran has become the first international level sportsman from the state to have entered politics directly.

Senthu, as he is affectionately called by his teammates, claims both basketball and public service was in his genes. His father has played basketball for the country and is a retired IAS officer.

The cager is contesting on the ticket of actor-politician Vijaykanth's Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) party from Tiruchirapalli two constituency.

''My father was a public servant and my Grandmother was a doctor. So the spirit of public service runs in my blood'', the hoopster-turned politician, who joins the list of a handful of Indian sportpersons to take to full time politics, told UNI, in the midst of hectic campaigning when contacted from Chennai where he resides.

''I want to change the negative image the word politics evokes these days'', Senthureeswaran avers. The image of politicians these days, seen only as ''trouble makers'', needs to be changed positively, he added.

More UNI VV KVV YA HS1055