Ministerial race hots up in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, May 15: The fact that the CPI-M MLAs in Malda are engaged in a mad race to bag a ministerial berth has become a hot topic of discussion in English Bazaar. It was learnt that various lobbies are at work to get their candidates elected for the ministerial post.Efforts are also on at the individual level after pressure from interest groups. It was learnt that some leaders are not happy with the idea of the CPI-M MLA, Mr Samar Roy, being chosen for a ministerial post and a group of CPI-M workers have blamed the lobby of Mr Sailen Sarkar, who is also in the race for a ministerial berth. Mr Sarkar, minister for food processing, industries and horticulture, has been elected from the Ratua seat for the second time. The newly-elected CPI-M MLA, Mr Biswanath Ghosh, defeated twice from Kaliachak in the last two Assembly elections, is also one of the claimants for the ministerial post. The CPI-M in Malda has two tribal MLAs ~ Mr Khagen Murmu and Mr Sadhu Tudu. Though Mr Tudu is a teacher, many of his followers want him to be a minister. Whereas another lobby is favouring Mr Khagen Murmu who was the deputy sabhadhipati of the Malda Zilla Parishad. CPI-M party sources said that only one MLA from Malda would get the ministerial berth in the Cabinet but the name has not yet been finalised. Prior to 2001, only one Forward Bloc MLA, Mr Birendra Maitra, was the minister for agriculture from Malda. He was defeated from Harishchandrapur and Mr Sarkar elected from Ratua was selected for the ministerial berth in 2001. This year, another Forward Bloc candidate has been elected from Harishchandrapur. People here are anxiously waiting to know whose name would be proposed for the ministerial berth from Malda.