Sourav Ganguly will meet Amit Shah today, likely to join the BJP

- Met the Governor of West Bengal yesterday

Kolkata, 28 December 2020 Monday

Former Indian cricket captain and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly was expected to join the BJP. After meeting state Governor Jagdeep Ghankhad yesterday, it was learned that Sourav would arrive in the capital New Delhi today for a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah.

West Bengal Assembly elections are to be held in 2021. Sourav Ganguly dominates the state and his presence is expected to benefit the BJP. For some time now, the BJP has been making constant efforts to get Sourav Ganguly to join it. Initially Sourav politely declined and said that I am happy in the game of cricket. I am not very interested in politics. But later BJP leaders with the help of local leaders managed to persuade Sourav.

The Governor's House described Sourav's meeting with West Bengal Governor Dhankhar as a formal meeting. But the fact that Sourav came to Delhi on Monday and held a meeting with Amit Shah is an indicative event. During a conversation with the media, when reporters asked Sourav about his meeting with the governor, Sourav retorted, "Can't I meet anyone?"

A statue of Sadgat BJP leader and Union Minister Arun Jaitley is to be unveiled at the Ferozeshah Kotla Ground in Delhi today. Amit Shah will be present on this occasion. Coincidentally, Sourav Ganguly is also scheduled to attend the function.

After leaving the governor's house, Sourav told reporters that it was a courtesy call. However Governor Dhanakhad told reporters that we discussed many issues.

It may be recalled here that in the last few years, many of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's trusted allies had left the Trinamool Congress party and accepted the BJP's saffron. However, the BJP was trying to take Sourav with it. If Sourav Ganguly joins the BJP, it could prove dangerous for Mamata Banerjee. There was also a rumor that the BJP might offer Sourav Ganguly a key post like Chief Minister or Home Minister of the state.

West Bengal Governor Dhanakhade posted pictures of his meeting with Sourav on social media and wrote that he met BBC President and the country's top cricketer Sourav Ganguly at 4.30 pm today (Sunday). He invited me to visit the Eden Garden Stadium, the oldest in the country, built in 1864, which I accepted. In addition, we discussed a number of issues. I had a lot of fun meeting Sourav Ganguly.