Cricket / Sourav Ganguly to step down as BCCI president sparks TMC-BJP war

Cricket | A political controversy has erupted in Bengal amid reports of Sourav Ganguly stepping down as the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Actually there are reports that the former captain of the Indian cricket team can replace Ganguly with Roger Binny. After these reports surfaced, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) alleged that the move was a political vendetta against Ganguly. Let us tell you that Roger Binny, who was the hero of India's 1983 World Cup winning team, is set to replace Sourav Ganguly as the President of the Cricket Board of India (BCCI). Ganguly has been the BCCI president for the last three years and he will step down for Binny at the annual general meeting (AGM) of the board to be held on October 18.

TMC MP Shantanu Sen said on Twitter that Amit Shah's son may continue in his post but Ganguly cannot. He wrote, "Another example of political vendetta. Amit Shah's son can be retained as secretary of BCCI. But Ganguly cannot be retained (in the post of president). Is it because he is from the state of West Bengal? Or did he not join the BJP? We are with you, Dada!"

Speaking to India Today, Sen said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had come to Ganguly's residence for dinner in May this year. He said Shah had asked (Ganguly) several times to join the BJP. He wanted Ganguly to be the face against West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. He further said that Ganguly's presidency was taken away because he had turned down Amit Shah's offer. "It is not just a politically influenced act but cheap saffronisation of sports. The BJP has reserved all top managerial posts for the family members of its leaders," he said.

Countering the allegations, BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said, "I don't know whether Shantanu Sen or his party helped Sourav Ganguly in any way or not. TMC is used to doing politics and they are continuing it." " The senior BJP leader and MP from Kharagpur also questioned whether Roger Binny was ever associated with the BJP. Ghosh said the Bengal government should work on reviving sports in Bengal before targeting the BJP.

Roger Binny to replace Ganguly as BCCI President, Shah to continue as secretary

After a week of uproar, it was decided that the 67-year-old Bengaluru-based Binny would be the 36th chairman of the board. Union Home Minister Amit Shah's son Jay Shah will continue as the BCCI secretary for the second consecutive term. Apart from this, Shah will also replace Ganguly on the ICC board. Rajiv Shukla, the only Congressman among the BCCI office-bearers, will continue to be the vice-chairman of the board. Arun Singh Dhumal, younger brother of Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, will now be the chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He will replace Brijesh Patel.

Maharashtra BJP leader Ashish Shelar will be the new treasurer of the board which means he will not be able to become the president of Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). He was to play this role with the support of Sharad Pawar faction. Devjit Saikia, a close aide of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, will be the new Joint Secretary. He will replace Jayesh George. Whether BCCI will contest for the post of ICC chairman or not has not been decided yet.

BCCI sources told PTI, "An influential minister in the central government played an important role in the selection of office bearers of the board." Binny will officially take charge at the BCCI AGM to be held in Mumbai on October 18. There will be no election for any post as all the candidates have been unanimously elected.