Trinamul . Congress fight over candidate

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 22.— While the Congress in Malda, is apprehensive about declaring the name of its proposed candidate, Mr Phani Roy, for English Bazaar Assembly segment even after sending his name to the screening committee in New Delhi; the Malda Trinamul Congress leaders today claimed that Mr Phani Roy is still a Trinamul Congress member. The Malda Trinamul Congress leaders, including the rebel leader Mr KN Chowdhury, said that Mr Roy has not yet resigned from the party, though he remained inactive after his defeat in the Old Malda constituency during the last Assembly election. “Officially he is a Trinamul member,” they claimed. Mr Phani Roy was a former Congress MLA, but he had contested as the Trinamul candidate in Old Malda. Consequently, he was defeated by the CPI-M, when another candidate contested for the Congress in the last Assembly election. But this time, the Malda Congress has reportedly sent Mr Roy’s name along with two other names to the election committee in New Delhi for consideration. It may be recalled that the Malda Congress was undecided to name its candidates for the Manikchak and English Bazaar and thus are facing the ire of a large number of Congress workers and supporters. Congress sources informed it will take at least three more days to declare the names of the candidates. On the other hand, it was also learnt that the Congress would finally announce the two names on 27 March for the English Bazaar. However, it was informed that the Congress leaders are divided over the election of the candidate for the English Bazar and expressed their unhappiness after seeing Mr Phani Roy’s name in the candidate list. As per reports, they have demanded for a more suitable Congress candidate to fight against the CPI-M candidate, Mr Samar Roy. Mr Netai Ghosh, one of the contenders for the English Bazaar, whose name has been sent to Delhi, today met Mr ABA Ghani Khan Chowdhury to seek a ticket from him. Mr Ghosh mentioned that he was interested in nominating Mr KN Chowdhury, the rebel leader of the Trinamul Congress. Mr KN Chowdhury has been bargaining the seat from the Congress and has informed the media that he may contest in English Bazaar as the Trinamul candidate.