Why Sourav said no to political innings

Ganguly became the BCCI president owing to strong support from boards of BJP-run states and shares a pleasant working relationship with Jay Shah.

Sources say the BJP top brass has been courting Ganguly ever since the last parliament elections when the party set its sights on West Bengal. Backing him for BCCI's top job was part of the plan to woo Ganguly, whose leadership skills as India's cricket captain, especially his no-holds barred aggression, have impressed many in the saffron party. The BJP top brass need 'a real Bengali hero' to turn the tables on Mamata -- and Ganguly, some in the party thought, was their answer .

But Ganguly's health, and possibly his doubt about the timing to join politics, seem to have foreclosed the possibility of a dramatic 'Dada versus Didi' battle in politically charged West Bengal. IANS