Trinamool says Ganguly can't bat for EC publicity campaigns

Kolkata, Mar 31: Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress questioned State Election Commission's decision to select former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly as a political icon for its publicity campaigns.

On Wednesday, Mar 30, Trinamool Congress filed a complaint to chief electoral officer Sunil Kumar Gupta alleging that the youth icon Sourav Ganguly was a Left supporter. TMC demanded the EC to take off the campaign programmes with Ganguly.

TMC submitted a CD to EC that reportedly shows footage of, urban development and municipal affairs minister Ashok Bhattacharya saying at a CPM rally in Siliguri, that he would ask Dada to campaign for the Left Front. TMC workers said that the disc also contains various other functions where Ganguly had participated in CPM rallies.

"Trinamool wanted to know whether Sourav is campaigning for us or for the CPM. We will examine the CD to assess the authenticity of the complaint and forward it to Nirvachan Sadan, if necessary," said additional chief electoral officer NK Sahana.

"We can"t stop Sourav from expressing his political opinion publicly. He had assured us verbally that he wouldn"t campaign for any party. If he does so, we will have to withdraw the advertisements featuring him," Sahana added.

Election commission has already finished the video recording for the publicity campaigns with Sourav Ganguly, but yet to be aired. It is not clear whether EC will air these videos or omit Dada from its campaigns.

OneIndia News