Former BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya's daughter and Trinamool Congress candidate Vaishali Dalmiya during her election campaign at Bally in Howrah. (PTI Photo)
Former BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya's daughter Vaishali Dalmiya, who is fighting West Bengal Assembly polls on a Trinamool Congress ticket, says she wants to carry the legacy of her father in public life.
"Many people know me because of my father. And since I belong to the family so they trust me more. I have inherited the legacy of my father and will take it forward in public life," Ms Dalmiya told PTI.
The 47-year-old, active in social work since an early age, is contesting from Bally constituency in neighbouring Howrah district.
Jagmohan Dalmiya, who died last year at the age of 75, inevitably figures in her conversations as she carries out a door-to-door campaign to meet voters.
"Some would say they knew him. Others admired him for his administrative skills. Sports is a common passion among people here," she says, claiming that her friend and former Team India skipper Sourav Ganguly will campaign for her ahead of polling on April 25 in the fourth phase.
"We are planning a football match where he will be present and campaign for me," she says explaining how sports has become a campaign tool for her.
So far, the 47-year-old has been taking care of their family business in the construction industry and running NGO 'Mission Ullas' to help rural and downtrodden people. She had also produced a Bengali film some years back.
"I am known as a businesswoman as well as a social worker. Now I am just adding a new dimension of politics into it," she says, adding that she is making good use of her marketing skills she learnt with her father in business.