'Incorrect…': Rahul Dravid dismisses talk of attending a BJP Yuva Morcha meet

This comes ahead of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, which are slated to be held this year.

Former India cricketer Rahul Dravid - now head coach of the men's national team - on Tuesday firmly denied reports he will participate in a meeting of the BJP's Yuva Morcha, or youth wing, in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh later this week. Dravid said the report was 'incorrect'.

India's coach Rahul Dravid looks on during a warmup session before the third Twenty20 international cricket match against Sri Lanka in Dharmsala, India, Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)(AP)

"A section of the media has reported that I will attend a meeting in Himachal Pradesh from May 12th-15th, 2022. I wish to clarify that the said report is incorrect," Dravid told news agency ANI.

Earlier today, Vishal Naheria, the BJP MLA from Himachal's Dharamshala, claimed Rahul Dravid would participate in a BJP Yuva Morcha meeting between May 12 and May 15.

Naheria told ANI Dravid's participation would send a message to the youth - that they could move forward not only in politics but also in other fields - ahead of assembly elections later this year.

"National Working Committee of BJP Yuva Morcha will be held in Dharamshala from May 12 to 15. National leadership of BJP and leadership of Himachal Pradesh will be involved. BJP National President JP Nadda… and union minister will also attend the session," he said.

"Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid will also participate in this. Owing to his success, a message will be given among the youth that we can move forward not only in politics but also in other fields."

Himachal votes for a new government in November-December, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party looking to capitalise on thumping wins in Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand earlier this year.

In 2017 the BJP won 44 of 68 seats. The Congress (then in power) got 21.

On Sunday, the party’s national spokesperson, Sambit Patra, said: "We are definitely repeating our government… the social environment of Himachal is in favour of BJP. We won UP, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand out of which we repeated our government in UP, Goa and Uttarakhand."

While the Congress and the BJP have been the main political parties in the state, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), encouraged by the Punjab poll results, is trying to make the contest multi-cornered.

With input from ANI