BJP plays Hindu card

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 24: The Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to play the Hindu card in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls in the primarily Muslim-domiciled constituencies of North and South Malda. The tactic is a departure from the party's previous policy of fielding Muslim candidates in Malda.

The Malda BJP district committee did not submit the names of candidates to the state committee on time which has led to confusion in the party over the nominations.

According to a section of the BJP local leadership, the state committee selected Mr Biswapriya Roy Choudhury as the candidate for the North Malda Parliamentary constituency after the district committee failed to provide a candidate on time. The issue became even more complex when the district committee suggested Mr Roy Choudhury's name for the South Malda Parliamentary seat with Mr Sanjit Mishra as an alternative.

“Similarly, the district committee also proposed the names of Mr Amlan Bhaduri and Mr Dipak Choudhury for North Malda, which gave the issue a new twist. However, the state leadership will probably shortlist Mr B Roy Chowdhury and Mr Amlan Bhaduri for the two constituencies,” a senior leader said.