Kolkata: With the Election Commission yet to decide on using a promotional video by cricketer Sourav Ganguly for the coming election in West Bengal, the electoral office in Kolkata is mulling to use promos by Team India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and former president APJ Abdul Kalam.
The awareness videos featuring Dhoni and Kalam were used during the recently-held Bihar and Jharkhand elections as part of the EC's campaign to motivate electors to vote.
"The election commission office in Bihar has shared the promos by Dhoni and Kalam with us and we are thinking of using them in case we do not get the clearance for Sourav Ganguly's," Joint Chief Electoral Officer Dibyendu Sarkar told reporters here.
Sarkar said that Sourav was also keen to communicate with the EC to know the fate of his promotional video which was ordered not to be shown till further order. Ganguly's promo ran into trouble after the Trinamool Congress raised objection, alleging that the former India captain was politically affiliated to the ruling CPM.
The Opposition party further complained that Ganguly had previously worked as brand ambassadors for several government departments including the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation.
The controversy arose when Urban Development Minister Ashok Bhattacharya, belonging to CPM, claimed that Ganguly would campaign for him in the elections.
A CD containing the minister's observations was sent to the EC. However, the EC office here after a scrutiny of the CD submitted a general observation with the EC that it didn't find any truth of association of Ganguly with any political party.
Ganguly and percussionist Bikram Ghosh were selected by the Election Commission to feature in promotional videos for telecast on major channels to create interest among people to vote.
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