Ghani faces Congress ire

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 27. — Since the last few days, the veteran Congress leader, Mr ABA Ghani Khan Chowdhury, has been facing the ire of the Congress workers over the issue of nomination of candidates. But, the veteran Congress leader managed to curb the growing agitation for the time being by promising to “look into the matter” and plan out an “immediate solution”.Reportedly, a group of Congress workers arrived to stage a dharna at the residence of Mr Ghani Khan Chowdhury yesterday on behalf of Mr Jalil Sheikh, a proposed candidate for the Manikchak Assembly segment demanding a Congress ticket. Two days back, a group of Congress workers belonging to the camp of Mr Ram Prabesh Mandal, a former Congress MLA from Manikchak, staged a dharna demanding a Congress ticket for him.It may be recalled that the Malda Congress had to send the names of two election contenders to New Delhi for finalisation. The names of the contenders were to be decided by Mr Ghani Khan Chowdhury, who wanted a Hindu candidate for Manikchak constituency to satisfy the demand of a densely populated “Chnai Mandal” community. But, the senior Congress leaders now fear another altercation over the issue of candidate nomination in the Old Malda Assembly segment because the Malda Congress has already declared Mr Arjun Haldar as their candidate for Old Malda. The former Congress MLA from Old Malda, Mr Phani Roy’s name was sent to New Delhi for the English Bazaar segment, but it was decided yesterday that Mr Phani Roy will not be contest from English Bazaar and may be nominated for Old Malda Assembly segment.The decision was taken when the rebel Trinamul Congress district president, Mr Krishnendu Chowdhury submitted a letter to Mr Ghani Khan Chowdhury yesterday, expressing his desire to join the Congress and further demanding a ticket.Mr Ghani Khan Chowdhury has given the green signal to Mr Krishnendu Chowdhury’s nomination in the English Bazaar. Reportedly, Mr Phani Roy was also present at the MP’s residence for his confirmation. “Every thing will be finalised tonight,” divulged a senior leader of the Malda Congress.