CPM turns on the heat

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 21: The Malda CPI-M today accused the Election Commission of pursuing “double standards” regarding the “execution of arrest warrant” against the Congress candidate, Mr Krishnendu Narayan Choudhury. It was learnt that the Congress candidate had mentioned an “arrest warrant” issued against him under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, along with a dozen pending cases in the court of law in the declaration attached with his nomination papers. Reportedly, the Malda CPI-M candidate, Mr Samarananda Roy, asked his election agent, Mr A Bhattacharya, to submit a letter to the returning officer of the English Bazaar Assembly constituency for clarification on the issue. It was also learnt that under the column of conviction, Mr KN Choudhury has mentioned “nil”. The Congress candidate clarified: “I have not yet been convicted by any court of law in India. An arrest warrant was issued a few months back by the Katihar court in Bihar, but it is not pending over a period of six months. I have applied for anticipatory bail and the court has fixed the date of hearing on 28 April.”Mr Choudhury added: “The CPI-M candidate is scared. He is trying to execute the case demanding my arrest so that I cannot campaign in the election. But, I am not afraid.” Reportedly, the Malda CPI-M also sent a letter to the chief election commissioner on this issue on 12 April and forwarded its copy to the chief electoral officer of West Bengal, the district magistrate and other officials concerned.After not receiving any response from the EC, the Malda CPI-M submitted a letter to the returning officer of the English Bazaar Assembly today, seeking to know the EC’s stand. In the letter, the election agent of the CPI-M candidate mentioned that the Malda DM had issued a letter (memo number: 418 /713/2006) on the matter after consulting the election observer, Mr Debendra Singh, in which the district election officer had told the official concerned to delete the Congress candidate’s name.The CPI-M leaders claim that the district magistrate reported the matter to the Malda SP, suggesting that he contact his Katihar counterpart. A few months back, Katihar Police raided the house of Mr KN Choudhury in Malda following the court’s order but was unable to find him. The case against Mr Choudhury was recorded in the Balarampur police station in Katihar under Sections 302, 201, and 34 of the IPC.The letter forwarded to the RO of English Bazaar by the CPI-M candidate reads: “When the police is arresting the common people on grounds of pending cases following the EC’s direction, why is the police reluctant to arrest the Congress candidate and how can he also attend government meetings?” The CPI-M district leader inquired if the EC had forwarded any letter of “relaxation” for the Congress candidate. #