Sourav Ganguly Rejects Political Mediation Claims, Calls Report Baseless and Misleading
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has firmly denied allegations that he acted as an intermediary between Mamata Banerjee and Yusuf Pathan regarding the Baharampur Lok Sabha seat. Calling the report false and baseless, Ganguly urged media organizations to verify facts before publishing stories that could impact an individual's reputation and trigger political controversy.
The report, published on June 4, 2026, claimed that Ganguly had contacted Yusuf Pathan on behalf of Mamata Banerjee and conveyed a proposal asking him to resign from the Baharampur Lok Sabha seat. According to the report, the resignation would have paved the way for Banerjee to contest a potential by-election from the constituency. The article further alleged that Yusuf Pathan was unwilling to accept the proposal.
Ganguly categorically dismissed the allegations and described the claims as completely false and without any basis. He clarified that Mamata Banerjee had never asked him to convey any message to Yusuf Pathan. He stated that no request was ever made to him regarding the resignation of a parliamentary seat or any other political matter.
The former Indian captain further said that he had never contacted Yusuf Pathan on such an issue. Consequently, he emphasized that there was no question of Yusuf Pathan either accepting or rejecting any message allegedly delivered by him. Ganguly stressed that he had not been involved at any level in political discussions or communications between the concerned individuals.
Issuing a strong statement, Ganguly urged media organizations to refrain from publishing reports based on rumors and speculation. He said it was unfortunate that allegations concerning him had been prominently published without proper verification of facts. He underscored that confirming the accuracy of information before publication is a fundamental responsibility of journalism, particularly in matters that can affect an individual's reputation.
The clarification from Ganguly comes amid growing attention surrounding the report and its political implications in West Bengal. His categorical denial has placed the spotlight on the importance of fact-checking and responsible reporting in cases involving public figures and sensitive political developments.

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