MP determined to bring PM to Malda by January

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 8: Brushing aside speculations over the cancellation of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's scheduled visit to Malda yesterday, the Malda MP Mr A H Khan Choudhury today said that he was determined to bring the PM to Malda in January or February.

Blaming fog and poor visibility for the cancellation of the PM's trip, Mr Choudhury today said: “ It was a matter of providence that the PM could not come here. There is nothing more to it as many people are trying to suggest,” he added.

Interestingly though, a section of Congress leaders including some loyal to Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi said: “The West Bengal Pradesh Congress leaders were not happy with the Malda MP's proposal to the PM to contest from the North Malda Parliamentary.” The MP, however believes otherwise. “The proposal was made not just to win the North Malda seat but also to gain other seats where Congress candidates are marginally weak in the adjoining districts of north and south Bengal. I still believe in the strategy and will try to convince Dr Singh to contest from North Malda. If the PM does not agree to contest from the seat, the party high command will finalise the candidate,” he said.

There is more dissension in the party. Some Congress leaders say that the Malda MP's decision to put up a big banner for the A B A Ghani Khan Technical School at their house where the PM was scheduled to visit, after notification of Sujapur by-polls was not correct and was a violation of the model code of conduct.

The MP clarified: “It had initially been planned that the PM would address a public rally at Sujapur and lay foundation stone for the technical school here but the two programmes were cancelled,” he said.

“I would request the PM to come here either in January or February to lay the foundation stone of the technical school named after the late A B A Ghani Khan Choudhury and also address a public meeting,” he said.