Sourav Ganguly rejects claims that he asked Yousuf Pathan to resign as MP on behalf of Mamata Banerjee | Today’s news
Former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly dismissed reports that he had contacted Yusuf Pathan on behalf of Mamata Banerjee and handed him a message asking him to resign from his position as the elected representative of his constituency to make it easier for her to fight the upcoming by-elections from the seat.
Ganguly said the allegations were completely false and urged the media not to be swayed by rumors or speculation. He clarified that the allegations regarding his participation in any such communications were false.
“It was claimed that I contacted Mr. Yusuf Pathan on behalf of Mamta Banerjee, former Chief Minister of West Bengal and conveyed her message that he should resign/resign from his constitutional post as the elected representative of the above constituency so that Ms. Banerjee can contest the subsequent by-elections from the said constituency,” all the by-elections from the said constituency said. OR.
He was reacting to the claims made in the media report from June 4.
Ganguly added, “I have never been involved in political matters at any stage with anyone concerned.”
Documents show MLAs attending meetings at Mamata’s residence
Meanwhile, a new development in the TMC legislature party leadership contest emerged on Saturday after documents allegedly linked to two meetings of party MLAs at Mamata Banerjee’s residence in Kalighat surfaced on social media. The documents prompted rebel opposition leader Ritabrat Banerjee to raise questions about their authenticity.
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The records relate to meetings allegedly held on May 6 and May 19 during the intensifying fight for control of the opposition seat in the West Bengal Assembly following the TMC’s defeat in the 2026 state elections.
According to the documents, 67 MLAs attended the May 6 meeting at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street. The attendance sheet reportedly contained the signatures of the legislators along with the names of their constituencies and the date of the meeting.
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While most MLAs signed in either Bengali or English, some names appeared in block letters. Among those listed in block letters were Subhasis Das, Chandranath Sinha, Dinen Roy and Baharul Islam, according to the documents, according to PTI.
The documents described the May 6 rally as a meeting called to elect the Leader of the Opposition, Deputy Leader and Chief Whip of the TMC Legislative Party.
According to records, former Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim presided over the meeting during which the motion to elect the legislature party chief was unanimously approved by the MLAs present.
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The letters also claimed that legislators who could not attend expressed their support for the motion. A separate set of documents related to the May 19 meeting reportedly contained the signatures of 59 TMC legislators.
The emergence of these records has added a new dimension to the ongoing power struggle between Mamata Banerjee’s camp and the rebel faction. The two sides remain embroiled in a bitter dispute over the legitimacy of competing claims to lead the party’s legislative wing, a conflict that has already spilled over into the Assembly and investigative agencies.
(LiveMint could not independently verify the authenticity of the claim)
The controversy revolves around allegations that the signatures of some MLAs were forged in documents submitted to the Assembly Speaker amid a battle to control the leadership of the opposition bloc.
Earlier, MLAs Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandeepan Saha filed complaints against the assembly and accused the individuals of forgery. Following the allegation, the state government handed over the investigation to the Criminal Investigation Department.
As part of the ongoing investigation, the agency has already obtained handwriting samples from several lawmakers for examination.
In response to the emergence of the documents, Banerjee said the issue was currently under investigation and declined to comment further on the matter.
