After West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee congratulated Union home minister Amit Shah on his son Jay Shah becoming ICC chairman, a war of words erupted between Trinamool Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party leaders.

“Congratulations, Union Home Minister!! Your son has not become a politician, but has become the ICC Chairman – a post much much more important than most politicians’!! Your son has indeed become very very powerful and I congratulate you on his this most elevated achievement indeed!” Mamata Banerjee wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

However, she was responded to by BJP leader and Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who said the ICC chairman is an elected position, unlike handing control of an organisation to one’s nephew or son, a veiled reference to Abhishek Banerjee.

“Respected Didi, ICC Chairperson is an elected post. You will agree with me that this is different from handing over the control of an organisation to one’s nephew or son. Let us take pride that with Jay Shah, five Indians have had the honour to head global cricket,” wrote Sarma.

Reacting to Sarma’s comment, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale took a swipe at the Assam chief minister saying that the term “elected” doesn’t suit someone who acts as a ‘broker’ whenever state governments are to be toppled in Maharashtra or Jharkhand.

“Dear HBS ji: For a broker who steps in whenever state govts are to be toppled in Maharashtra or Jharkhand, the word “elected” doesn’t suit your personality. Of course, we know it’s an “elected” position. Not a hand sanitizer contract among others that can just be “handed over” to family & friends. Also, as @MamataOfficial rightly said – the new ICC chief’s post is very powerful. So powerful, in fact, that even a CM of your stature is desperate to please him already,” wrote Gokhale in his post on X.

Earlier, Manipur chief minister had N Biren Singh reacted to Mamata Banerjee’s X post directed at the Union home minister. 

“Didi is under the impression that ICC Chairperson has been handed over like someone giving away the power of an organisation to a close relative such as a nephew or son. Let me correct you. Jay Shah got voted to be the chairman. In other words, he has been elected. Is this too hard to comprehend?” wrote Singh.

What is Jay Shah’s priority as ICC chairman?

Jay Shah on Tuesday was announced as the new chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Shah, who served as the BCCI secretary since October 2019 and chair of the Asian Cricket Council since January 2021, will assume the role in December, following the end of the ongoing term of incumbent chairman Greg Barclay.

At 35 years old, Shah became the youngest chairman in the history of the ICC, and he joined the likes of Jagmohan Dalmiya, Sharad Pawar, N Srinivasan and Shashank Manohar as part of Indians who have headed the ICC in the past.

Shah, who was the sole nominee for the chairmanship, revealed his intention to popularise the sport further, particularly with its upcoming inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

“I am committed to working closely with the ICC team and our member nations to further globalise cricket. We stand at a critical juncture where it is increasingly important to balance the coexistence of multiple formats, promote the adoption of advanced technologies, and introduce our marquee events to new global markets. Our goal is to make cricket more inclusive and popular than ever before.”