Kolkata: Tripura’s ruling BJP government is happy to have snagged celebrated cricketer Sourav Ganguly as its brand ambassador, while the leadership in his state West Bengal believes the move is merely financial and has no political implication.
Speaking to ThePrint, Trinamool Congress leader Sougata Roy said the former India skipper was a top endorser of brands and the Tripura deal only expanded that portfolio. Roy added: “One cannot see any political move in Ganguly being Tripura’s brand ambassador. His endorsements fetch him crores of money. This will too. He’s a popular face and has a lesser role in cricket and even lesser in politics.”
Meanwhile, Bengal’s BJP unit lauded Tripura’s decision and derided state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for not picking the “Maharaja of Bengal” as its own face. State BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar said Wednesday that the Bengal government should at least appoint Ganguly as Kolkata’s civic body sheriff since that post is vacant.
There has been chatter in the past that Sourav Ganguly was being wooed by both the Trinamool Congress and the BJP. When he was not appointed BCCI president for a second term, the Trinamool said the BJP was trying to “humiliate” Sourav for not joining the party.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha announced Sourav’s appointment on Twitter, saying: “It’s a matter of great pride that former captain of Indian cricket team Shri Sourav Ganguly Ji has accepted our proposal to be the Brand Ambassador of Tripura Tourism. Had a telephonic conversation with him today. I am confident that Shri Ganguly Ji’s participation will definitely give an impetus to the state’s tourism sector.”
On Wednesday, Tripura’s tourism minister Sushanta Chowdhury met Ganguly and put his government’s proposal on the table. After the meeting, Ganguly told the media in Kolkata that he was ready for the role.
He added: “I will travel as and when required to Tripura and will push for the completion of the cricket stadium. BCCI pays a large sum for cricket stadiums.”
Chowdhury told reporters that the state needed a prominent and popular personality along with proper branding to showcase it to the world. “Who could be a better face than our beloved Dada,” he said.
Last week, the West Bengal government upgraded Ganguly’s state security from Y to Z after a fresh assessment. It is the second-highest security cover which also protects the state’s ministers.
The decision was taken as the tenure of his existing security had lapsed. He now has eight to ten police personnel guarding him from the previous arrangement that provided three cops.
Ganguly’s last day out with Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was at a ceremony celebrating UNESCO’s “intangible heritage” tag for Durga Puja in 2022.
Banerjee also batted for Ganguly last year when The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) did not send his name for the post of chairman of the International Cricket Council.
There was also speculation last May about Ganguly’s “political ambitions” when Union Home Minister Amit Shah had dinner at his place along with other BJP leaders.
Also read: ‘Good chance to defeat BJP’ — Mamata stands behind Kejriwal in fight against Modi govt ordinance