While most political parties refused to speculate on Board for Control for Cricket in India president Sourav Ganguli’s two-hour-long parley with Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, State BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Monday reminded that performance was the key to getting priced positions in the BJP adding people like Ganguli would be an asset to the party.
When asked to comment on the Monday’s one-on-one meeting between Dhankhar— often alleged by the ruling Trinamool Congress as the BJP’s de facto points-man in Bengal — and the former India captain, Ghosh said he had no information about such discussions having taken place between the two.
“He is a famous personality … one of the most successful batsmen and captains of the Indian cricket team … not only Sourav Ganguli but anyone can meet the Governor,” he said adding however “I don’t know whether there is any political connection in this meeting.”
On his willingness to get the cricketing southpaw in the BJP’s team he said, his party always wanted people like Sourav Ganguly to its ranks.
“Our doors are always open for people like him. In the past too, many celebrities joined our party and in the coming days more will come. When good people of repute join your party it sends a positive message to the people.”
When asked as to whether Ganguli featured on top of the BJP’s list of next Chief Ministerial candidate Ghosh said, “anyone can work on any position because the BJP always puts right kind of people in right place so as to serve the people properly.” When asked specifically whether he would like to see him as the next Chief Minister of the State she said, “anyone can be a Chief Minister but for that one has to join the party, perform and deliver,” adding the top leadership would decide the things at an appropriate moment.
When the same question was put to senior Bengal Minister Subroto Mukherjee he too showed his ignorance about the Sunday’s meeting having taken place between the Governor and Ganguli. When told that the meeting had indeed taken place he said “I should not comment on anyone meeting the Governor … I can only say that India is playing well in the second test in Australia … but for the meeting you are talking about I am least interested about that…”
Ganguli who enjoys an excellent chemistry with Union Home Minister Amit Shah earlier told the media not to read much into the Sunday’s meeting as it was a courtesy call.
“A meeting was long overdue as he had expressed his interest in visiting the Eden Gardens … I had gone to invite him to visit the stadium … nothing more should be read into this meeting,” Ganguli who has throughout his career maintained a neutral political stance notwithstanding his good chemistry with all the political parties like the Left Front, TMC and now the BJP said.