Sourav Ganguly's name was included in leaflet supporting re-election of TMC leader Partha Chatterjee.
In spite of residing in a state where politics go hand in hand with cricket and football, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has always managed to keep a distance from it. However, just ahead of the second phase of Bengal elections, a campaign leaflet supporting state minister and TMC leader Partha Chatterjee (Behala West MLA) has included the Indian cricket icon's name in it, reported Anandabazar Patrika.
An organisation close to the TMC leader distributed leaflets in the Behala West constituency which includes the names of several eminent personalities of the region. It is on this very list that one can find Ganguly's name. In the leaflet, the personalities are seen to outline Chatterjee's achievements, urging the residents to vote in favour of him.
Among the 19 names on the list are poet Subodh Sarkar and actors Soham Chakraborty, Hiran Chatterjee and Srabanti Chatterjee. However, the hullabaloo over the former left-handed batsman's name being on the leaflet is that unlike the above mentioned, Ganguly has never accepted proposals from different political parties to join them.
Another shocking part of this incident is that the current President of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has no idea about the campaign leaflet.
Ganguly, on being asked about the issue, was taken aback and quoted as saying, "What? Leaflet with my name has been distributed? This is the first time I am hearing about this. I have no information regarding the incident".
On being inquired whether anybody took permission from him before distributing the leaflets, Ganguly said, "Nobody has taken any kind of permission from me."
However, Partha Chatterjee contradicted Ganguly and said, "As far as I know Sourav has a good relation with the organisation which has distributed the leaflets. So it can't be that they haven't asked permission from him before doing anything like this."
The state education minister also gave a different spin to the entire controversy saying, "This has no connection with politics. There has been a lot of development in the area and Sourav Ganguly has seen that. Being an eminent resident of the region he has asked the people to vote in my favour so that the development process isn't hindered."
It's difficult to understand though how Ganguly's name being featured in a political leaflet is not politics. Ganguly's clearly surprised reaction shows that he doesn't really agree with Chatterjee's clarification.
There were reports that Ganguly would be supporting Jagmohan Dalmiya's daughter Vaishali Dalmiya who is a TMC candidate contesting from Bali constituency.
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 "Sourav Ganguly and Partha Chatterjee")
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