No BCCI deal, Sourav Ganguly welcome to join BJP: Amit Shah

In an exclusive interview to India Today TV, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that there was no deal between him and Sourav Ganguly and that he had no say in appointing the BCCI president.

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No BCCI deal, Sourav Ganguly welcome to join BJP: Amit Shah
On being asked whether Sourav Ganguly will join the BJP, Amit Shah said that he was welcome to do so. (Photo: PTI)

In Short

  • Amit Shah on Monday denied taking the decision to appoint the BCCI president
  • Amit Shah said there has been no deal with Sourav Ganguly over BCCI presidentship
  • On being asked whether Sourav Ganguly will join the BJP, Amit Shah said that he was welcome to do so

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday denied taking the decision to appoint the BCCI president. In an exclusive interview to India Today TV, Amit Shah said there has been no deal with Sourav Ganguly over BCCI presidentship.

"I did not decide who will be BCCI President. BCCI has its own election process for it," Amit Shah said.

When asked about Sourav Ganguly meeting Amit Shah, the home minister said, "He can come see me. I have been associated with cricket for years. There is no harm in Sourav Ganguly meeting me."

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When asked about a deal between him and Sourav ganguly over the BCCI presidentship in return of him representing the BJP in Bengal for elections in 2021, Amit Shah said, "There has been no such deal or talks with him. It is just bad-mouthing against Sourav Ganguly."

When asked about trying to recruit Sourav Ganguly in the BJP, Amit Shah said, "We have never talked to Sourav about this before. We didn't try to recruit him and neither did he deny joining the party."

When asked whether the BJP was looking for a face to represent the party in Bengal, Amit Shah said, "We don't need a face for the BJP in Bengal. We won 18 seats in Bengal wthout a face and lost few seats here and there."

"Its not like we don't want a face, but we can also win without one," Amit Shah said.

On being asked whether Sourav Ganguly will join the BJP, Amit Shah said that he was welcome to do so.

"If he does, its good. But there has been no such deal with him about it," Amit Shah said.

"I tell every citizen of this country that the BJP is a good party to join. It's my job," Amit Shah said.