Kolkata, Jan 22 (Express News) : Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has dismissed the reports of him joining the BJP saying he has declined the offer given to him by the party.

When asked by the reporters, Ganguly said “Yes, the BJP did make an offer. However, I have declined it. I won’t be contesting the elections.”

Ganguly had reportedly also turned down the BJP’s offer to contest last year’s general election.
Ganguly’s induction in the BJP could have strengthened party base in West Bengal and posed a tough challenge to Trinamool Congress.
Earlier, there were speculations of TMC leader Dinesh Trivedi joining the BJP

Earlier News:

Sourav Ganguly likely to join BJP: Sources

Kolkata, Jan 22 (NDTV): Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly is reportedly in talks to join the ruling BJP and the negotiations, on for some time, have now moved to the "highest level," say sources.

Mr Ganguly, one of the best known faces of cricket, is an icon in West Bengal and hosts a popular quiz show "Dadagiri" on television.

If he joins the BJP, it will be a major acquisition for the party in Bengal, where it has been trying to strengthen its base and give a serious challenge to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress.

Since he retired in 2008, Mr Ganguly has been sought after by many political parties, including the BJP. He had reportedly turned down the BJP's offer to contest last year's national election. There was speculation that Narendra Modi, now prime minister, had offered to make him sports minister.

Mr Ganguly had said, "Yes, the BJP did make an offer. However, I have declined it. I won't be contesting the elections."

The BJP scored two seats in the election and big gains in its vote share, and has since been working towards chipping away at the base of the Trinamool, which has been ruling the state since 2011.

BJP President Amit Shah spelled out his party's goal as he declared at a rally in Kolkata in November: "I am Amit Shah and I have come here to uproot the Trinamool from Bengal."

Sourav Ganguly's entry into the BJP sets up another big blow for Mamata Banerjee at a time Trinamool Congress is losing key leaders to that party.

Manjul Krishna Thakur, a minister in the Mamata Banerjee government, joined the BJP last Friday.

There are reports that Dinesh Trivedi, a founding member of the party, and four more state ministers are on the verge of switching sides.