As Sourav’s BCCI stint set to end, TMC-BJP war of words begins

On Wednesday, an unusual political battle erupted in West Bengal amid the buzz that ex-cricketer Roger Binny is likely to replace Sourav Ganguly as chief of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The Trinamool Congress (TMC) termed the development as a ‘humilition’ to the former Indian skipper while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) countered the allegations saying ‘Dada’ is the pride of Bengal. 

TMC Rajya Sabha MP Santanu Sen alleged political vendetta of the BJP behind the possible exit of Ganguly as BCCI president. 

“Amit Shah visited Sourav Ganguly’s house a few months ago. There is information that Ganguly was approached repeatedly to join BJP. Probably as he has not consented to join BJP and is from Bengal, he has become prey to political vendetta. Amit Shah’s son was retained as BCCI secretary, but not Ganguly,” Sen said. 

Further, taking to Twitter, the TMC MP wrote, “Another example of political vendetta. Son of Amit Shah can be retained as Secretary of BCCI. But Sourav Ganguly can’t be. Is it because he is from the State of Mamata Banerjee or he did not join BJP? We are with you Dada!” 

BJP MP and party state general secretary Locket Chatterjee slammed TMC for politicising the issue. 

“Those who are criticizing Sourav Ganguly, look at your face in the mirror. Sourav Ganguly is the pride of our Bengal. It has nothing to do with politics. Sourav Ganguly will go higher in the coming days. Those who have criticized the family system, like pisi-bhaipo, Manik Bhattacharya, Paresh Adhikari, and Anubrata Mandal have done it for their family members. BJP does not believe in the family system,” Chatterjee said. 

In May this year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah met BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly at his residence in Kolkata, West Bengal. During the 2021 assembly elections, West Bengal witnessed a fierce political battle between the incumbent TMC and the BJP, the emerging force in the state. The TMC emerged victorious with 213 of the total 294 seats while the BJP managed to get 77 seats.  

The discussions were held in the internal BCCI meeting in the lead-up to the elections, scheduled for 18 October. Senior BCCI administrator Rajeev Shukla will remain the Vice-President of the board while Ashish Sellar is likely to take over as the new treasurer replacing Arun Dhumal. Former pacer Roger Binny is said to be the frontrunner to replace Ganguly as the BCCI president. 

Sourav Ganguly, the current President of BCCI, is tipped to be India’s representative for the 16-member International Cricket Council (ICC) Board Chairman’s post, elections for which are slated to be held this November.