Sourav Ganguly refuses comment on joining BJP speculation

Kolkata, Jan 22 (IANS) Former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly Thursday refused to comment over speculation that he would be joining the BJP.

The cricket great, who has been nominated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Swachh Bharat Mission, however, asserted that he was serious about making the campaign a success.

“I have got nothing to say,” the former left-handed batsman repeatedly told media persons here about the speculation that began after industrialist Harsh Goenka Wednesday tweeted that Ganguly was all set to join the BJP.

“I am surprised with Harsh’s tweet. I did not even know (about the tweet) until somebody told me. I haven’t met Harsh for ages, so what to say.

“There are lots of respectable people but I have nothing to say. I have nothing to say, because whatever I say may be termed differently so I leave at that,” Ganguly said.

On reports that the central BJP leadership had contacted him, Ganguly said: “The only time I spoke to them was for the Swachh Bharat. Yes, I am taking it seriously because it’s a fabulous work and hopefully we can do it.”

On his views about Modi, Ganguly said: “Everyone thinks highly about him.”

While BJP national secretary and party in-charge for West Bengal Siddharth Nath Singh Thursday dismissed the speculation, saying there was no truth in Goenka’s claim, party MP and union minister Babul Supriyo said if the former captain does join, it will be a big boost.

“I don’t know about his joining the BJP. But, he is a very big icon and if he joins, the path that we are trying to walk under the leadership of our captain Narendra Modi, I think it will give a big boost,” Supriyo, union minister of state for urban development, told media persons here.

Ganguly had earlier rejected ideas of taking the political plunge.

“I am better off in the ground,” Ganguly had said last year following reports that he was offered to contest the Lok Sabha polls on a BJP ticket.