Malda gets Sabina as Sabhadhipati

Statesman News Service

MALDA, July 7: Mrs Sabina Yesmin, a Congress candidate, was finally elected as Sabhadhipati of Malda Zilla Parishad (MZP) today. She got 19 out of 34 votes against Mr Hamidur Rahaman, a CPI-M candidate. Yesterday, the West Bengal PCC chief and Union minister for information and broadcasting held a three hours meeting and Mrs Sabina Yesmin was chosen to be the Sabhadhipati. The meeting was inclusive and few were against a women candidate. Yesterday, the PCC chief Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi had been able to collect 10 votes in favour of Mrs Yesmin after interacting with them individually following which he made a panel of three members to decide, making his preference for Mrs Yesmin clear. He was taken ill before leaving Malda. Interestingly, one of the members Mr Mostaque Alam, another contender, proposed her name as Congress candidate for Sabhadhipati. The election was conducted today amid tight security. Section 144 CrPC was imposed in Malda Zilla Parishad building premises to avoid any clash. After swearing ceremony of all elected members of Zilla Parishad Mr Mohan Tudu walked out of conference room to stay off the election. “When Congress co-opted another tribal member for Saha-Sabhadhipati, my presence is useless,” Mr Tudu told reporters. It may be recalled that Congress today co-opted Mr Joy Murmu, who had faced defeat in Habibpur. Mr Murmu was also elected as Saha-Sabhadhipati and cast his vote during election process. As a result, both Sabhadhipati and Saha-Sabhadhipati got 19 votes out of 34 member board. Eighteen Congress candidates were elected and retained the MZP.