Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has categorically denied recent media reports that claimed he acted as an intermediary between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and cricketer-turned-politician Yusuf Pathan. The reports had suggested that Ganguly conveyed a message from Banerjee asking Pathan to resign from his elected position to facilitate her contesting a by-election. In a strongly worded statement, Ganguly described the allegations as completely untrue and stated that he never contacted Pathan on Banerjee's behalf or delivered any such message.
Ganguly's Clarification
Ganguly expressed his dismay over the publication of these claims, criticizing the lack of proper verification and what he termed a reckless disregard for the truth. He emphasized that Banerjee had never requested him to communicate with Pathan regarding any political matter. The former cricket star reiterated that he has never been involved in political activities at any stage of his life and that the allegations were baseless.
Background of the Controversy
The controversy arose from unverified reports that suggested Pathan, who is a member of the Trinamool Congress party, was being asked to vacate his seat to allow Banerjee to contest a by-election. However, Ganguly's denial has put the matter to rest, at least from his perspective. He urged the media to verify facts before publishing such claims to avoid spreading misinformation.
Ganguly's statement comes amid a flurry of political activity in West Bengal, where by-elections are often a subject of intense speculation. However, the former cricketer made it clear that he has no role in political negotiations and that his name should not be dragged into such controversies.
