Few Indian public figures straddle the worlds of sport and politics quite as distinctly as Kirti Azad. A member of India’s 1983 Cricket World Cup-winning squad, he later built a lengthy political career across multiple parties, currently serving as a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha. His name regularly surfaces in conversations about cricket nostalgia and Indian parliamentary affairs alike.
Kirti Azad Biography, Wiki,
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Kirti Azad |
| Date of Birth | 2 January 1959 |
| Age (2026) | 67 years |
| Birthplace | Darbhanga, Bihar, India |
| Hometown | Darbhanga, Bihar |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Caste or Community | not publicly confirmed |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| Height | Approximately 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Weight | not publicly confirmed |
| Eye Colour | Dark brown |
| Hair Colour | Salt and pepper (grey) |
| Profession | Politician, Former Cricketer |
| Known For | 1983 Cricket World Cup winner; Lok Sabha MP |
| Father’s Name | Bhagwat Jha Azad (former Chief Minister of Bihar and Governor) |
| Mother’s Name | not publicly confirmed |
| Siblings | not publicly confirmed |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Current Wife | Poonam Azad |
| Children | not publicly confirmed |
| School | not publicly confirmed |
| College or University | Hindu College, University of Delhi |
| Degree or Qualification | not publicly confirmed |
| Political Party | Indian National Congress (INC) (as of last confirmed reporting) |
| Current Position or Role | Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha |
| Constituency | Bardhaman Durgapur (West Bengal) |
| Net Worth (estimated) | ₹5–8 crore (estimated; source not found — unverified) |
| Monthly Income (estimated) | not publicly confirmed |
| Twitter/X | @KirtiAzadBJP (handle used previously; party affiliation changed — verify current handle) |
| not publicly confirmed | |
| not publicly confirmed | |
| YouTube | not publicly confirmed |
| Official Website | not publicly confirmed |
Kirti Azad Election History
| Year | Constituency | Party | Result | Notes |
| 1999 | Darbhanga, Bihar | BJP | Won | First Lok Sabha win |
| 2004 | Darbhanga, Bihar | BJP | Won | Re-elected |
| 2009 | Darbhanga, Bihar | BJP | Lost | Defeated |
| 2014 | Darbhanga, Bihar | BJP | Won | Returned to Parliament |
| 2019 | Bardhaman Durgapur, West Bengal | Trinamool Congress (TMC) | Lost | Contested after defecting from BJP |
| 2024 | Bardhaman Durgapur, West Bengal | INC | Won | Won on INC ticket in alliance |
Note: Vote share figures not publicly confirmed from verifiable sources.
Kirti Azad Career Timeline
| Year | Event |
| 1977–78 | First-class cricket debut for Delhi |
| 1980–84 | Represented India in Test matches and ODIs |
| 1983 | Member of India’s historic Cricket World Cup-winning squad |
| 1999 | Elected to the 13th Lok Sabha from Darbhanga (BJP) |
| 2004 | Re-elected to the 14th Lok Sabha from Darbhanga (BJP) |
| 2014 | Elected to the 16th Lok Sabha from Darbhanga (BJP) |
| 2017–18 | Suspended from BJP amid public feud over DDCA (Delhi & District Cricket Association) |
| 2019 | Joined Trinamool Congress; lost from Bardhaman Durgapur |
| 2021 | Joined Indian National Congress |
| 2024 | Elected to the 18th Lok Sabha from Bardhaman Durgapur (INC/INDIA alliance) |
Kirti Azad Awards and Achievements
| Year | Award / Achievement | Given By | Notes |
| 1983 | Cricket World Cup winner’s medal | BCCI / ICC | Part of India’s legendary squad |
| — | Multiple Ranji Trophy appearances | BCCI | Represented Delhi |
Kirti Azad and the Cockroach Janata Party Movement (CJP)
In May 2026, a viral social media movement called the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) swept across Indian political discourse, drawing in opposition politicians, senior lawyers, and millions of ordinary citizens. The movement took its name from the idea that cockroaches survive every attempt to exterminate them — a metaphor supporters used to describe dissent that refuses to be crushed.
Kirti Azad became one of the movement’s most talked-about joinees when he posted on X: “I would like to join the Cockroach Janta Party. What are the qualifications required?” The CJP responded in full meme mode, writing: “We welcome Kirti Azad to our Cockroach Janta Party. Winning the 1983 World Cup is a good enough qualification.”
The exchange delighted social media users and underlined what supporters described as the movement’s refreshing tone in a political culture many see as hostile to open dissent. Azad joined fellow Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra as one of the two most prominent parliamentary figures to publicly align with the CJP. Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan was also among the notable supporters.
Critics dismissed the movement as carefully packaged digital politics rather than spontaneous rebellion, pointing to the founder’s earlier association with the Aam Aadmi Party. But the CJP’s exchange with Kirti Azad where a World Cup winner’s medal was accepted as a membership qualification became one of the most shared political moments of the 2026 social media calendar.
Azad Early Life and Family
Born on 2 January 1959 in Darbhanga, Bihar, Kirti Azad grew up in one of Bihar’s most prominent political families. His father, Bhagwat Jha Azad, served as the Chief Minister of Bihar and later as a Governor, giving Kirti an early ringside view of public life and governance.
Kirti Azad Father
Bhagwat Jha Azad was a senior Congress politician who rose to become Chief Minister of Bihar and subsequently served as Governor of several states. His stature as a public figure shaped Kirti’s awareness of politics from a young age, even as Kirti initially chose the cricket field over the political arena.
Kirti Azad Mother
Kirti Azad’s mother’s name is not publicly confirmed in reliable sources.
Kirti Azad Siblings and Family Background
Details about his siblings are not publicly confirmed. The Azad family has deep roots in Bihar’s political and social fabric, and the name carries considerable recognition across the state.
Kirti Azad Education
Kirti Azad attended Hindu College at the University of Delhi, where he was a prominent figure in college cricket. His time in Delhi shaped both his sporting career and his lasting connection to the capital’s cricket establishment. His specific degree or qualification from that period is not publicly confirmed.
Kirti Azad Career
Kirti Azad’s public life has moved across two very different arenas over six decades, first as a right-arm off-break bowler and lower-order batsman for India, and later as a recurring presence in national politics.
Cricket Career
Kirti made his first-class debut for Delhi in the late 1970s, playing in the domestic Ranji Trophy. His performances earned him a call-up to the national side, and he represented India in Test matches and One Day Internationals during the early 1980s.
His most celebrated moment came in 1983, when he was part of the Indian squad that won the Cricket World Cup in England under Kapil Dev’s captaincy. While not one of the headline performers in that tournament, his inclusion in that historic side secured him a permanent place in Indian cricket’s collective memory.
Political Career
After retiring from cricket, Kirti Azad entered politics through the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), winning his first Lok Sabha seat from Darbhanga in Bihar in 1999. He was re-elected from the same seat in 2004, lost in 2009, and returned to Parliament in 2014.
His later years in the BJP were marked by a sustained and public campaign against alleged financial irregularities in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA). This brought him into direct conflict with senior party colleagues and eventually led to his suspension from the BJP around 2017–18.
He subsequently joined the Trinamool Congress and contested from Bardhaman Durgapur in West Bengal in 2019, where he lost. In 2021, he formally joined the Indian National Congress. In the 2024 general elections, he contested again from Bardhaman Durgapur as part of the INDIA alliance and won, returning to the Lok Sabha.
Kirti Azad Political Journey and Elections
Kirti Azad has had one of the more restless political careers among Indian MPs, moving from the BJP to the TMC and then to the Congress across just a few years.
Darbhanga Years (BJP)
His three wins from Darbhanga — in 1999, 2004, and 2014 — established him as a significant figure in Bihar’s political landscape. His 2009 defeat was a temporary setback in an otherwise consistent run from his home constituency.
DDCA Controversy and BJP Suspension
His most nationally prominent political act during his BJP years was his vocal opposition to alleged mismanagement within the DDCA. He raised the issue repeatedly in Parliament and in public. The campaign drew widespread attention but also resulted in his suspension from the party.
Bardhaman Durgapur Seat
After joining the Congress, Kirti shifted his electoral base entirely to West Bengal. His 2024 win from Bardhaman Durgapur as part of the INDIA alliance brought him back to the Lok Sabha for a fourth term overall.
Kirti Azad Religion and Community
What is Kirti Azad’s Religion
Kirti Azad is Hindu.
What is Kirti Azad’s Caste or Community
His specific caste or community is not publicly confirmed in reliable sources.
Kirti Azad Personal Life and Relationships
Is Kirti Azad Married
Yes, Kirti Azad is married.
Kirti Azad Wife
His wife is Poonam Azad, who has maintained a relatively low public profile compared to her husband’s political career.
Kirti Azad Children
Details about his children are not publicly confirmed in reliable sources.
Kirti Azad Height, Weight and Physical Appearance
Kirti Azad stands at approximately 5 feet 11 inches (around 180 cm), though this figure is not officially confirmed. He has dark brown eyes and hair that has turned salt and pepper with age. His weight is not publicly confirmed.
Kirti Azad Net Worth and Earnings
| Source | Estimated Amount |
| Overall net worth | ₹5–8 crore (estimated; source not found — unverified) |
| Parliamentary salary | As per standard Lok Sabha MP remuneration |
| Cricket career earnings | Modest, given the era of pre-commercial cricket |
As a sitting Member of Parliament, Kirti Azad receives the standard salary, allowances, and constituency development funds applicable to Lok Sabha members. His primary income sources across his career have been parliamentary earnings and, in earlier years, cricketing fees. The net worth figure cited above could not be verified against a primary disclosure source.
Kirti Azad Social Media
| Platform | Handle | Followers | Notes |
| Twitter/X | @KirtiAzaad | 156.1K Followers | Active account |
| @kirtiazaad | 5,822 followers | Active account | |
| facebook.com/AzaadKirti | 149K followers | Active page |
Kirti Azad has been active on social media, particularly Twitter/X, where he has used the platform to raise political and cricket-related issues. His follower counts and current verified handles are not publicly confirmed as of this writing.
Kirti Azad Controversies
DDCA Corruption Campaign
Kirti Azad launched a sustained public campaign against alleged financial mismanagement in the Delhi and District Cricket Association while serving as a BJP MP. He named senior party figures in his allegations and raised the matter in Parliament. The campaign led to his suspension from the BJP around 2017–18. The matter attracted significant national media coverage. No criminal conviction against any named individual was confirmed in reliable sources consulted.
Party-Switching Criticism
His movement from the BJP to the TMC and then to the Congress drew criticism from opponents who questioned the consistency of his ideological positions. Kirti has defended his decisions as principled opposition to the ruling dispensation.
Lesser Known Facts About Kirti Azad
- He is the son of Bhagwat Jha Azad, a Congress stalwart and former Bihar Chief Minister, yet spent the bulk of his own political career in the rival BJP before eventually joining the Congress.
- His 1983 World Cup winner’s medal is one of the most prized possessions associated with Indian cricket, placing him in a fraternity of only a few dozen men who have won the tournament for India.
- He was a right-arm off-break bowler who also contributed with the bat in the lower order, making him a genuine all-rounder at the domestic level.
- His DDCA campaign is widely credited with drawing public attention to governance issues in Indian cricket administration, even before formal regulatory scrutiny intensified.
- He is one of the relatively few Indian politicians who has won Lok Sabha seats from two entirely different states — Bihar and West Bengal.
- His college cricket at Hindu College, Delhi, is often cited as a formative period that built both his sporting skills and his Delhi connections that lasted decades.
Kirti Azad remains a distinctive figure in Indian public life, one whose credibility rests on a combination of World Cup glory and four stints in Parliament spread across a quarter century. His 2024 return to the Lok Sabha on a Congress ticket, after years of political turbulence, confirmed that his electoral relevance has not dimmed with age.
Kirti Azad FAQ
Who is Kirti Azad?
Kirti Azad is an Indian politician and former cricketer. He was part of India’s 1983 Cricket World Cup-winning squad and has served as a Member of Parliament four times, currently representing the Bardhaman Durgapur constituency in West Bengal on an Indian National Congress ticket.
How old is Kirti Azad?
Kirti Azad was born on 2 January 1959, making him 67 years old in 2026.
What is Kirti Azad’s net worth?
His net worth is estimated at ₹5–8 crore, though this figure could not be verified against a primary disclosure or official source and should be treated as approximate.
Is Kirti Azad married?
Yes, Kirti Azad is married to Poonam Azad.
Who is Kirti Azad’s wife?
His wife is Poonam Azad, who has generally stayed out of the political spotlight.
What is Kirti Azad’s religion?
Kirti Azad is Hindu.
What is Kirti Azad’s height?
He stands at approximately 5 feet 11 inches (around 180 cm), though this is not officially confirmed.
Who are Kirti Azad’s parents?
His father is Bhagwat Jha Azad, the former Chief Minister of Bihar and Governor. His mother’s name is not publicly confirmed.
What is Kirti Azad known for?
He is best known for being a member of India’s historic 1983 Cricket World Cup-winning team and for serving as a Lok Sabha MP across multiple terms and parties.
Which party does Kirti Azad belong to?
As of the 2024 general elections, Kirti Azad is a member of the Indian National Congress (INC) and was elected on that ticket from Bardhaman Durgapur, West Bengal.
What happened between Kirti Azad and the BJP?
Kirti Azad was suspended from the BJP around 2017–18 after publicly alleging financial irregularities in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) and naming senior party figures. He subsequently joined the Trinamool Congress and later the Indian National Congress.
What is Kirti Azad’s constituency?
He currently represents the Bardhaman Durgapur constituency in West Bengal in the Lok Sabha.
Sources
Lok Sabha Official Website — Member Profile: https://loksabha.nic.in
Election Commission of India — Election Results: https://eci.gov.in