After BJP, it's the turn of Congress to woo Sourav Ganguly
- Details
- Category: West Bengal Latest Election News and Updates
- Last Updated: Thursday, 22 January 2015 20:52
After BJP, Congress woos Sourav Ganguly:
KOLKATA: After BJP, it's the turn of Congress to woo former Indian cricket skipper Sourav Ganguly.
Within days of Ganguly himself indicating that he had spoken to BJP's Bengal in charge and Pilibhit MP Varun Gandhi in New Delhi, PCC president Pradip Bhattacharya went to Ganguly's Behala residence on Sunday morning.
Though the discussion was kept under wraps, the timing of Bhattacharya's visit set political circles abuzz with speculation.
Bhattacharya, a Congress Rajya Sabha MP, said: "I have known Sourav Ganguly for long. This was a courtesy visit." Asked specifically if Congress was trying to get the former captain on board, he said: "We have not talked about it."
"The meeting does not carry any significant meaning, contrary to what is being reported. What he will do is his decision. I have not given any kind of proposal (to him) regarding politics. It was a private meeting," Bhattacharya said.
Agencies quoted CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury as saying in Agartala, "Ganguly has been with the Left. I hope he will remain so."
Trinamool Congress national spokesperson Derek O'Brien said: "Trinamool Congress doesn't react to political speculations."
But political observers feel the move could have a bearing on the forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Bengal. As many as five RS MPs from Bengal will retire on April 2 next year. They are Shyamal Chakraborty, Prasanta Chatterjee, Ahmad Saeed Mahilabadi, Barun Mukherjee and Tarini Kanta Roy.
Given the present party-wise representation in the Assembly, Trinamool is likely to get three seats, Left Front one and for the last, either Left and Congress has to be on the same page or Trinamool could walk away with this one too.
The Left Front and Congress had come together twice earlier to send two apolitical people — General (retd) Shankar Roy Chowdhury and incumbent Mahilabadi — to the Rajya Sabha. Sources said-"The Times Of India"
The former Indian cricket captain has maintained good terms with the previous Left Front government as also with the ruling Trinamool Congress government.
According to the State BJP leadership, the party has made similar offers for the upcoming polls to those who have made a mark in different spheres of public life. However, the party is not willing to disclose their names at this moment.
Even in the past the State unit of the BJP had fielded candidates who did not have a political background, but were recognised as eminent personalities in their respective areas of work.
In 1991 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP fielded well-known actor Victor Banerjee and former world champion body-builder Manohar Aich. In 1996, well-known soccer coach Amal Dutta was also the party’s candidate.
Though the percentage of the votes polled in the BJP's favour in West Bengal increased none of these candidates won the elections.News by -"The Hindu"