Ghani's death fails to mellow Cong in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 16: The death of ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury has failed to mellow the Malda Congress’s enthusiasm for the Assembly election this year. A section of the leaders belonging to the Malda Congress said that the people’s sympathy for the late veteran Congress leader would surely yield better results for the party during the Assembly election in the district. It was learnt that some Malda Congress leaders however remain divided on the issue. The vice-president of the Malda Congress, Mr Masidur Rahaman, said that he hoped the procession organised for taking Ghani Khan’s body from Farakka to Malda will prove effective. It may be recalled that the procession led by a group of Congress leaders virtually turned into an election campaign on the NH-34, where thousands of people had gathered to pay their last respects to the great leader. Mr KN Chowdhury’s decision to bring Ghani Khan Choudhury’s body to the Malda Town Hall for the people, who had gathered to pay their homage and for engaging in “dead body” politics received all-round criticism. Mr KN Choudhury was also heckled for mismanagement in the Malda Town Hall. However, based on his planning others have pursued the same rules for the Kaliachak and Sujapur Assembly politics. It may be noted that the Congress workers demanded the body of Ghani Khan Choudhury after hearing the decision of Mr KN Chowdhury and they succeeded in organising a rally in three constituencies of Kaliachak, Sujapur and the English Bazaar and also partly in the Old Malda constituency. Mrs Rubi Noo, however, wanted to bring the body to the residence directly from the helipad from the policeline field. “The possibility of winning the Sujapur and Kaliachak seats are confirmed,” said the vice-president, Mr Masidur Rahaman. On the other hand, Congress supporters at the grassroot level, said: “Malda Congress is finished after the sudden death of the leader of the leaders. There is no one to resolve the factional feud now.” They also said: “The Malda Congress was not based on an organisation. It was based on Ghani Khan. It was Ghani Khan’s Congress. When he is no more, why will the people for the party?The CPI-M workers are also divided on this issue. They do not believe that sympathy wave can change any results. “There is no need to worry as 10 days later, the entire scenario will automatically change,” said Mr Samar Roy, the CPI-M MLA and the contesting candidate from the English Bazaar against Congress candidate, Mr KN Chowdhury. It was learnt that Mr KN Chowdhury is planning to organise a huge rally in the English Bazaar town highlighting the contributions of Ghani Khan Choudhury.