Cong backs BJP nominee for saha sabhadhipati

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug. 7: As a payback to the Left organisations following the nuclear deal fallout, the Congress in Malda has decided to propose the name of a BJP member Mr Mohan Tudu as saha sabhadhipati in the Malda zilla parishad (MZP). The decision was taken after the resignation of Mr Joy Murmu, who had been elected to the post on 7 July during the formation of the MZP board.Though the Congress was not inclined to support the BJP member earlier to maintain a secular image, it now has no alternative on the issue.After recapturing the MZP board this year, the Congress was faced with the problem of nominating a saha sabhadhipati candidate, reserved for the scheduled tribe, as the Congress had no ST elected member in its fold. As a result, the Congress had to co-opt one ST individual Mr Joy Murmu, who was elected as saha sabhadhipati in the MZP on 7 July. But Mr Murmu had to submit his resignation following the instruction of the district president Mr A H Khan Choudhury after a verdict from the Calcutta High Court. The High Court had rejected the co-option method formulated by the top officials of the panchayat and rural development department.Before the formation of the board though, a section of the Congress leaders wanted to bar the BJP and propose the name of a CPI-M tribal candidate to the saha sabhadhipati's post. But after the falling out with the Left on the nuclear deal issue, those leaders now are against supporting a CPI-M member.The Malda Congress district president and local MP, Mr A H Khan Choudhury, did not hesitate to disclose his view on the subject. “The saha sabhadhipati's post in the MZP will be given to the BJP's elected tribal candidate when re-election will be held for the vacant post,” he said today.