A tweet on cricketer Sourav Ganguly ‘joining’ the BJP by industrialist Harsh Goenka created a flutter even as the party dismissed it saying that there was no truth in it.
Mumbai-based industrialist Harsh Goenka, chairman of the RPG Group, had tweeted: “Saurav Ganguly to join BJP. Big coup for the party in West Bengal. # Dada vs Didi.”
When contacted by The Hindu , Mr Goenka’s office declined to comments, but stood by the tweet. He also said in another tweet: “another very well known footballer to join the BJP in West Bengal.”
Although Mr Ganguly said, “I am not aware of what Harsh Goenka has tweeted… I have utmost respect for our Prime Minster Mr Naredra Modi. Ami onake shradhdha kori ( I respect him). No comments.”
BJP national secretary Siddharth Nath Singh told The Hindu that there was no truth in the tweet of the industrialist that Saurav Ganguly is joining the BJP.
“We have respect for the former Indian cricket captain. Some of our leaders have good relations with him,” he said.
The party won two seats in West Bengal and is now trying to increase its lone membership in the State legislative assembly during the upcoming State elections next year.
Political pundits feel that Ganguly may just be the party’s answer to West Bengal’s didi.