Cong leaders in rescue act

Manas R Bannerjee
Statesman News Service

MALDA July 30: With a view to retain the Malda parliamentary seat, top state Congress leaders are trying hard to pacify the Congress workers here today that Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s assurance is not an alternative to the development made by Ghani Khan Choudhury, the former MP in Malda. “Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee cannot be alternative to Ghani Khan Choudhury,” said Mr Somen Mitra, former PCC chief, addressing at a workers’ meeting at Manikchak and other places, which was echoed by other state leaders. “What has he (CM) done for Kaliachak and Malda after the Assembly elections ? Mr Mitra and others claimed.Chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had urged the Congress workers to join the CPI-M and the Left Front on the last day of his campaign for the Assembly elections at Kaliachak in Malda and paying respect to the late Malda MP and Congress stalwart, ABA Ghani Khan Chouhury, Mr Bhattacharjee claimed: “After Ghani Khan, nobody in Malda Congress can fulfill the dreams of the great leader for development in this district.” He had also said: “In his absence, only we can fulfill his dream. Have faith in the LF government ... have faith in me ... I am assuring you ... we must develop the region as desired by Khan saheb.” After their defeat at Kalichak, where Congress candidate Mr AH Khan Choudhury was contesting, the Malda Congress leaders were shocked and they viewed that the CM’s statement was one the main reasons of Mr AH Khan Choudhury’s defeat. As a result the Malda Congress today organised a workers meet in Kaliachak and in Manikchak and Old Malda where the Congress candidates were defeated. “Malda is a traditional Congress belt. People know about Barkatda’s contribution. In his absence , if factional feuds continue, the weakening Congress here will certainly weaken the party in the state as a whole,” Mr Somen Mitra said here today. Mr Mitra was here today along with PCC leaders like Mr Pradip Bhattacharya, Mr Manas Bhuniya and Mr Jayanta Bhattacharya to attend several workers’ meets of the party. It was a campaign for the coming parliamentary by-election on one hand and to control factional feuds at the other.The Malda Congress had got a severe blow when a group of leaders broke away and joined the TMC . Mr Mitra said: “Some of the leaders may leave the Congress for their own benefits. But that will not affect the Congress in the district indirectly pointing at Mr Prakash Singhee and Mr Jalil Sheikh, district and block Congress leaders, who had recently joined Trinamul Congress. At the meetings Congress sabhadipati , Mr Goutam Chakraborty and Mr KN Choudhury, MLA English Bazaar, also accompanied the PCC leaders along with the Congress candidate for the by-poll Mr AH Khan Choudhury and Mrs Rubi Noor, district Congress president, the brother and sister of the late Ghani Khan Choudhury. Mr Pradip Bhattacharya said: “If the CPI-M thinks that people will believe their campaigning in the name of the late Ghani Khan Choudhury, they are living in a fool’s paradise. People know the ideal of Barkatda and the CPI- M’’s relentless opposition in realising his dreams.” If any party really carries the mantle of Ghani Khan Choudhury, it is the Congress.” At this meeting district Congress president Mrs Rubi Noor and MLA Mr Krishnendu Choudhury were also present. Mr Goutam Chakraborty said : “The PCC leaders will also hold meetings in all the seven Assembly constituencies under Malda parliamentary constituencies. It is learnt that after mid September the by-poll may be conducted in Malda.

Pic: P Sanyal