KOLKATA: Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly is reportedly in talks to join the ruling BJP and the negotiations, on for some time, have now moved to the highest level, say sources. Mr Ganguly, one of the best known faces of cricket, is an icon in West Bengal and hosts a popular quiz show Dadagiri on television. If he joins the BJP, it will be a major acquisition for the party in Bengal, where it has been trying to strengthen its base and give a serious challenge to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees Trinamool Congress. Since he retired in 2008, Mr Ganguly has been sought after by many political parties, including the BJP. He had reportedly turned down the BJPs offer to contest last years national election. There was speculation that Narendra Modi, now prime minister, had offered to make him sports minister. Mr Ganguly had said, Yes, the BJP did make an offer. However, I have declined it. I wont be contesting the elections. The BJP scored two seats in the election and big gains in its vote share, and has since been working towards chipping away at the base of the Trinamool, which has been ruling the state since 2011. BJP President Amit Shah spelled out his partys goal as he declared at a rally in Kolkata in November: I am Amit Shah and I have come here to uproot the Trinamool from Bengal. Sourav Gangulys entry into the BJP sets up another big blow for Mamata Banerjee at a time Trinamool Congress is losing key leaders to that party. Manjul Krishna Thakur, a minister in the Mamata Banerjee government, joined the BJP last Friday. There are reports that Dinesh Trivedi, a founding member of the party, and four more state ministers are on the verge of switching sides. ndtv/article/india/dada-vs-didi-in-bengal-sourav-ganguly-in-talks-with-bjp-652174
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 10:05:08 +0000
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