KOLKATA, June 6, 2026 — Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has strongly denied reports claiming that he acted as an intermediary for Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee in an alleged attempt to persuade Member of Parliament Yusuf Pathan to resign from his parliamentary seat.
According to Indian media outlet India Today, a recent report published in a Bengali daily suggested that Mamata Banerjee was considering contesting a by-election from the Baharampur Lok Sabha constituency as a possible route back to Parliament. The report further claimed that the Trinamool Congress sought Ganguly’s assistance in conveying a message to Yusuf Pathan, urging him to vacate the seat.
Yusuf Pathan, a former Indian cricketer, won the Baharampur constituency in the 2024 general election by defeating senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. The constituency is considered politically significant due to its large Muslim voter base, which some political observers believe could make it a relatively safe seat for Banerjee if she were to contest from there.
The report alleged that Ganguly had been approached to communicate Mamata Banerjee’s intentions to Pathan. It also claimed that the MP was unwilling to resign, thereby rejecting the proposal.
Responding to the allegations on Saturday, Ganguly issued a detailed statement dismissing the claims as entirely baseless. He described the report as demonstrating a “complete disregard for the truth” and emphasized that he has never been involved in political affairs.
Ganguly stated that Mamata Banerjee had never requested him to deliver any message to Yusuf Pathan and that he had never contacted the parliamentarian regarding such a matter.
“Mamata Banerjee has never asked me to convey any message to Yusuf Pathan. I have never spoken to Yusuf Pathan on this issue. Therefore, the question of receiving any response from him does not arise,” Ganguly said.
The former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president also urged media organizations to verify information thoroughly before publishing sensational reports that could mislead the public.
The controversy has attracted attention in West Bengal’s political circles, where speculation continues over Mamata Banerjee’s future electoral plans. However, neither the Trinamool Congress nor Yusuf Pathan has officially commented on the specific claims mentioned in the report.
Ganguly’s categorical denial appears to have put an end to speculation surrounding his alleged involvement in any political communication between the Trinamool leadership and the Baharampur MP.
