Fresh political buzz surrounding the future electoral plans of Mamata Banerjee has encountered another hurdle after Trinamool Congress MP Yusuf Pathan firmly rejected claims that he had been asked to vacate his parliamentary seat.
The controversy emerged after reports suggested that the Baharampur Lok Sabha constituency could potentially be used as a route for Banerjee to enter Parliament through a future by-election. The speculation quickly gained traction in political circles and sparked debate across West Bengal.
However, Pathan has now categorically denied any such development, stating that no conversation regarding his resignation ever took place. According to the MP, neither Banerjee nor any senior leader from the Trinamool Congress approached him with a proposal to step down from the seat he won in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
His statement comes shortly after former India captain Sourav Ganguly also rejected reports linking him to the controversy. Ganguly dismissed suggestions that he had acted as an intermediary in any discussions involving Pathan’s parliamentary position, maintaining that he had no role in the matter and had never contacted the MP.
The dual denials have cast doubt on the reports that initially triggered the speculation. Political observers note that while discussions about Banerjee’s future parliamentary ambitions periodically surface, no official indication has emerged from the Trinamool Congress regarding any by-election strategy.
Pathan’s victory from Baharampur was one of the notable outcomes of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, where he defeated veteran Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. Since then, the constituency has remained politically significant due to its symbolic value in West Bengal politics.
