Poll pitch: Sourav Ganguly to bat for Vaishali Dalmiya on April 17

Former Team India captain and president of the CAB (Cricket Association of Bengal) Sourav Ganguly will be campaigning for Vaishali Dalmiya, star Trinamool Congress candidate and daughter of the late cricket administrator Jagmohan Dalmiy. He will campaign in her constituency Bally—Belur--Liluah on April 17. Confirming the date, Vaishali Dalmiya indicated that Kolkata’s Maharajah--known to her family for over 40 years--is likely to take part in a solidarity cricket match on that day. “The Bengal cricket team may be coming over to play. We may also invite a team from Tollywood to play against Dada’s team”, Vaishali Dalmiya, busy finalising the venue and other nitti gritties of the campaign told Millennium Post on Monday. The match will be a limited over a game. Both State Chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Sourav Ganguly stood by the bereaved family when the legendary cricket administrator Jagmohan Dalmiya died of a sudden heart attack last year. 

Vaishali, a director of the family construction business, was handpicked by the Chief Minister to contest the Assembly polls from Howrah-Bally-Liluah on a Trinamool Congress ticket, soon after her father’s death. 

“Sourav Ganguly is like family. I knew he would campaign but we were waiting for the T 20 World cup and then Poila Baisakh to get over”, added Vaishali.

The Chief Minister has already campaigned for Vaishali and another new candidate from the world of cricket, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, who is contesting from Howrah North. Vaishali, who has been talking about industrial resurrection and citizen’s welfare for to local residents, has also campaigned on motorboats through the waterways of her constituency. 

She told Millennium Post that she ensure that several medium and small industries come up in Liluah if she is voted to power. 

Having worked in the social sector for over 20 years and promoted Mission Ullas among the poorer section of people, Vaishali also plans to empower women in her constituency by forming cooperatives for making handicrafts, dry food items, stationery. As for her inspiration, Vaishali is a great admirer of Mamata Banerjee, who is also her role model in politics.