MZP sabhadhipati appears for hearing

MALDA, March 28. — Mr Goutam Chakraborty, the Congress sabhadhipati, who was declared “not found” by officials during their door-to-door visit for electoral roll revision, today appeared for a hearing called by the sub-divisional officer on this issue. It may be recalled that five CPI-M workers had lodged a complaint with the Malda election department against Mr Goutam Chakraborty, demanding the deletion of his name from the electoral roll, as his name was allegedly enlisted resident as a tenant of Milky, a village in the English Bazaar block, few years back to contest in Malda Zilla Parishad. As such, sources informed that the CPI-M district leaders had today decided to forward the matter to the Election Commission demanding the deletion of Mr Chakraborty’s name.The CPI-M source said: “If the EC decides to delete Mr Goutam Chakraborty’s name, the CPI-M members will demand the resignation of the Congress sabahdhipati from his post.”Reportedly, a few days ago, the SDO had called a hearing to discuss the issue of Mr Chakraborty’s absence from his residence during the electoral roll revision, in which Mr Chakraborty was not present.On the basis of the complaint lodged by the CPI-M workers, the SDO today cross-questioned the Congress sabhadhipati, Mr Goutam Chakraborty on the issue. The report would be placed before the district magistrate for consideration. The SDO reportedly posed several questions to the Congress sabhadhipati on the issue of not possessing a ration card at the place of his residence (a question raised by a CPI-M member) and also about not possessing a landline phone at his residence at Milky in English Bazaar.The Congress sabhadhipati is said to have replied that he did not have a ration card where he resided according to the electoral roll requirements, as being above the poverty line, he did not buy any kerosene or sugar, but as a citizen of India, possessed the PAN card and other necessary documents. Mr Goutam Chakraborty is also said to have agreed that he does not possess a landline phone at Milky, where he resides for working and used his mobile for emergency purposes. At the same time, he admitted using a landline phone registered in his name at his brother’s residence in the English Bazaar town. The SDO also enquired the Congress sabhadhipati about the absence of his residential address from the logbook of his vehicles and about his family residing in the Malda town without him. Interestingly, when asked how is it possible to include his name in the electoral roll, the Congress sabhadhipati reportedly quipped: “Our Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, is the voter of Assam, but he resides in New Delhi.” — SNS