The announcement of Sourav Ganguly, former Indian cricket team captain, as the tourism ambassador of Tripura has sparked a political rift between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal. While the Bengal BJP hailed Tripura's decision, they criticized Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for not selecting Ganguly as the tourism face of West Bengal. In a bold move, the party has now demanded that Ganguly be appointed as the sheriff of Kolkata.
Sukanta Majumdar, the chief of Bengal's BJP unit, expressed his admiration for Sourav Ganguly, calling him an icon and a source of pride for the people of Bengal. He expressed disappointment that the Mamata Banerjee-led government did not capitalize on Ganguly's popularity by making him the brand ambassador of tourism for West Bengal. However, the BJP welcomed Tripura's decision to appoint Ganguly as the tourism ambassador for the state and extended their gratitude to the Tripura government.
In light of this, Sukanta Majumdar has urged the Bengal government to at least appoint Sourav Ganguly as the Kolkata sheriff, as the position is currently vacant. This demand further intensifies the political tension between the TMC and the BJP, with both parties vying for influence and support in West Bengal.
Following the announcement of Ganguly's association with Tripura tourism, Tripura Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury paid a visit to Ganguly's residence in Kolkata to propose the idea. Ganguly accepted the offer, leading to speculation and discussions surrounding his involvement in political and ambassadorial roles.
However, Ganguly himself expressed his disappointment with the politicization of the situation. He urged political leaders not to attach a political angle to everything he does, emphasizing his desire to focus on his contributions and commitments without unnecessary speculation.
The demand for Sourav Ganguly to be appointed as the Kolkata sheriff has added another dimension to the ongoing political dynamics in West Bengal. It remains to be seen how the state government and the TMC will respond to this demand by the Bengal BJP and whether Ganguly will assume the role. As the situation unfolds, political observers and cricket enthusiasts are keenly watching the developments surrounding one of India's most beloved cricket personalities.