Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly on Saturday spoke about his close ties with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a staunch BJP critic, on Saturday, a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the house and had a family dinner. are called.

Ganguly, the former captain of the Indian cricket team, also praised West Bengal minister and Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim and described him as someone who can be contacted at any time.

Ganguly said at the inauguration program of a private hospital, "Our honorable Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is very close to me.

I had approached him to help this institute.

The former cricketer said, "I am also very close to Firhad Hakim.

He has been watching me since I was in first grade.

He is our family friend.

Anyone who contacts him gets help.

I have also called him several times.

Shah's visit to Ganguly's residence on Friday had fueled speculation that the former cricketer might try his hand at politics soon.

However, the dinner was said to be a close family affair, hosted by Ganguly, his wife Dona Ganguly, Sourav's elder brother Snehasish Ganguly and other family members.

Shah was accompanied by BJP ideologue Swapna Dasgupta, party's state president Sukanta Majumdar and Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Shubhendu Adhikari.

Aware of the speculation, Ganguly had said on Friday, "Many kinds of speculations are being made... but I have known him (Shah) since 2008.

I used to meet him while playing cricket.

There is nothing more than this." He also said that he has worked with Shah's son Jay Shah in the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Jay Shah is the secretary of BCCI.