The late Ghani Khan Choudhury continues to cast a wide shadow in Malda even as the big fight for the by-poll involves his brother and the Left Front’s Sailen Sarkar, writes Manas R Bannerjee
THE late Abu Barkat Ataul Ghani Khan Choudhury may be no more, but as far as the Malda by-poll, scheduled for 16 September, is concerned he continues to remain the “king” — the last word in Malda politics.And this does not only apply to Congress workers. Even CPI(M) leaders have been recalling his memory in their election campaigning.
Though it promises to be a tough contest between Congress candidate Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, alias Dalu and brother of the late Ghani Khan, and CPI(M) candidate Sailen Sarkar, it virtually amounts to a fight between “Ghani Khan and the Left Front” in this region. Because of the strong base the late Ghani Khan created in Malda, Murshidabad and North Dinajpur, it is going to be a prestigious fight for the Congress.
Its leaders still believe the people of Malda will cast “two votes” for the party here. They explain, “The people will vote for Barkatda to pay him respect before entering a polling station and finally they will vote for his brother.”
In urging voters, Congress workers say, “You had cast votes in favour of our great leader for five years. Please don’t elect anyone (before completion of the five-year term), who is still anti-Barkatda after his sudden death”.
In order to counter such a campaign, CPI(M) leaders remember to pay their respects, calling him the man who worked “for the development of Malda” at every election rally they address.
Even chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee did not forget to pay the late Ghani Khan respect before directly attacking his brother, the contesting candidate, and raising questions about his identity, quality and political profile in comparison with that of his elder brother and CPI(M) candidate Sailen Sarkar.
“Sailenbabu is a far better candidate than Dalu. He is the only alternative to Barkat Saheb in Malda. Dalu’s identity is ‘brother of Ghani Khan’. He does not have the quality to represent the interest of Malda’s people in New Delhi. People did not elect him in the last assembly from Kaliachak, after the death of his brother,” the chief minister said at all the three election rallies he addressed recently.
Bhattacharjee said only the Left Front was capable of fulfilling the dreams of the late Ghani Khan Choudhury. The “have faith in me” plea was what cost Dalu the Kaliachak assembly seat.
The CPI(M) has circulated scores of colourful leaflets portraying Sailen Sarkar, including his his profile, and party leaders even printed Sarkar’s name on plastic carry bags in which leaflets, folders, booklets and other campaign materials have been distributed among thousands of voters over the past few days.
Interestingly, the CPI(M) has projected and circulated photographs in leaflet form in which Sailen Sarkar is shown shaking hands with Ghani Khan Choudhury, with the caption: “Barkat regards to Mr Sarkar”.
CPI(M) leaders are hoping that this will be their great chance to recapture the seat and they have adopted various strategies to defeat the Congress candidate. Dozens of state level leaders and ministers had been deployed to campaign in Malda Lok Sabha constituency that comprises seven assembly segments. Swimmer Bula Choudhury and athlete Jyotirmoyee Sikdar were also present in Sarkar’s roadshows.
Since 1980, the late Ghani Khan, a former state minister, Union minister and Malda MP, was elected eight times from Malda Lok Sabha constituency and for the CPI(M) it was always a distant dream to snatch the seat from him. In fact, Ghani Khan defeated Sailen Sarkar, presently state parliamentary affairs minister, three times.
The last time when Sarkar was defeated by a margin of over 24,000 votes, a senior of a senior state level CPI(M) leader was overheard saying, “We should not expect Malda LS seat before Barkat’s retirement.”
In 1991, the CPI(M) saw a ray of hope but Sarkar lost to Ghani Khan. In 1996, the party again nominated Sarkar but Ghani Khan was elected by a margin of over 89,000 votes. In 1998, the Left Front nominated CPI(M) candidate Jiban Moitra, present CPI(M) district secretary and district Left Front convener, but he managed only 36 per cent of the vote against Ghani Khan’s 42 per cent.
In his third attempt, Sarkar was able to secure just one per cent more of the vote (of the 78 per cent polled votes) in the 1999 Lok Sabha election and was defeated by a margin of over 24,000 votes.I
n 2004, it was decided not to field Sarkar against Ghani Khan. The CPI(M) state leadership decided to nominate Pranab Das, a low profile district leader from the student and youth wings.
It may be recalled that Ghani Khan did not agree to contest the 2004 parliamentary election and tried to nominate a heir because of his illness. But due to unavoidable circumstances, he failed to nominate anyone from his family and, as a result, Congress leaders very close to him prevailed upon him to file his nomination for the last time.
His sister, Rubi Noor, presently district Congress president, had sent a message to the people: “This is the last vote for Barkatda, we want to elect him by a record margin of over 100,000 votes.” Ultimately, Ghani Khan secured 49 per cent of the over 80 per cent votes polled and defeated Pranab Das by a margin of 111,108 votes.
Das secured only 36 per cent votes.
Now, however, Congress leaders are worried about the CPI(M) strategies, especially in the wake of the chief minister's campaign. To retain the seat, the “guardian-less” Congress in Malda, led by Ghani Khan family members, is depending on Union minister for information and broadcasting and parliamentary affairs minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, although the late Ghani Khan used to call him “very mischievous” owing to the differences of opinion among them on various issues.
Congress MPs and other Union ministers were camping at various spots to bag votes in excess of 100,000, which the late Ghani Khan secured in the last election.
It may be recalled that in the last assembly election (2006), the Left Front secured 403,032 votes from seven assembly segments (Malda LS area), the Congress got 358,339 votes and the BJP-Trinamul alliance bagged 94,737 votes.
In the Malda LS by-poll, only five candidates are contesting, including Biswapriya Roy Choudhury, a district leader of the Malda BJP and two other independent candidates.
In 1998, 1999 and 2004, the state BJP had nominated a Muslim candidate from the state level in Malda Lok Sabha constituency considering the population ration between Hindus and Muslims, which was 13,77,844 and 12,52,292 respectively according to the 1991 Census report.
In 1998 and 1999, BJP candidate Majaffar Khan secured 20 and 21 per cent of votes respectively. In 2004, Badshah Alam (BJP) had managed only 10 per cent votes.
In this curent by-triangular fight, no one can predict the results. On the other hand, no one can deny Sarkar’s chances.
It all seems headed for a photo-finish.
But we’ll have to wait for the final counting on 19 September. END
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