Politics At Play Over IPL Final Venue Shift
Last Updated:
West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas criticised the justification given by the BCCI, stating that even the weather department cannot forecast conditions for June 1 to 4 yet.
West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas (left) and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar (right) (Image: News18, PTI)
West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas has made strong allegations that the state has been deliberately sidelined in the decision to move the IPL final from Eden Gardens. Addressing a press conference on Thursday, he stated that the move was politically motivated. He also refuted the claim made by Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar that the match was shifted due to law and order concerns, calling it “completely false and a baseless rumour” — a claim echoed by the Bengal Police Commissioner as well.
Aroop Biswas asserted, “There is no better stadium than Eden Gardens. Even if it rains, matches can resume within half an hour — no other stadium in India offers this facility. Yet, the final has been shifted to Ahmedabad under the guise of weather concerns. This is just an excuse. It seems pre-decided that no final will be held anywhere but Ahmedabad. In the last four years, three finals have taken place at the Narendra Modi Stadium.”
He further criticised the justification given by the BCCI, stating that even the weather department cannot forecast conditions for June 1 to 4 yet. He presented data supporting his claim.
Biswas went on to challenge Sukanta Majumdar’s claims of security concerns, saying, “BCCI and the IPL Governing Council haven’t cited security issues. These are just excuses. The real intent is to deprive Bengal.” He added, “As the Sports Minister of Bengal, I protest this decision. Ask the CAB’s Secretary and President why they haven’t spoken out. The CAB should have protested.”
Police Commissioner Manoj Verma also addressed the issue, stating, “There has never been any law and order issue at Eden Gardens. Seven matches were held smoothly this season. Historically, matches in Kolkata have always been conducted peacefully. Any suggestion otherwise is baseless and seems driven by another agenda.”
During a press conference, Aroop Biswas also highlighted broader issues, claiming that Bengal is being systematically deprived — from sports to central government schemes like Awas Yojana, rural road development, and the 100-day employment program. “We are owed Rs 1.87 lakh crore by the central government. Despite repeated denials, the people of Bengal will continue to give a fitting response, as they have in the past and will do in the future,” he said.
Interestingly, following the press conference, Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar deleted his earlier post on X (formerly Twitter) where he had mentioned law and order issues as the reason behind the match being moved.
- First Published:
