Cong yet to decide on candidate for North Malda constituency

MALDA, Feb. 27: The Congress is in a dilemma over nomination for the North Malda Parliamentary constituency.

Embarrassed over the “Swiss citizenship” controversy surrounding possible candidate Dr AN Khan Choudhury, a major section of the district Congress leadership including MLAs, are unsure if he should get the ticket. Others including the Congress district general secretary Mr Moshtaque Alam want his candidacy and said they were waiting for the AICC's nod on the matter.

Speaking on the subject, the English Bazaar Congress MLA, Mr Krishnendu Choudhury said: “No meeting was held in the district congress committee or in the PCC and AICC to select Dr AN Khan Choudhury as Congress candidate for North Malda. No final decision has been taken for the seat till now. The PCC chief, Mr Pranab Mukherjee would take the decision.”

The district Intuc president and chairman of the Congress-run English Bazaar Municipality, Mr Narendranath Tiwari has a different view. “If Dr AN Khan Choudhury does not qualify to contest on the issue of his citizenship, the newly elected Sujapur MLA Miss Mausam Benazir Noor is the next possible candidate for North Malda,” he said.

There is a hitch here though. According to party sources, Mr Moshtaque Alam has informed the Malda Congress MP that he too would claim ticket for North Malda if Miss Noor's name is considered for the seat.

The former district Congress president and MLA from Araidanga, Mrs Sabitri Mitra has a different opinion again. “Miss Noor should not contest in Parliament elections now. She is committed to serve the people of Sujapur. She should not deprive them,” Mrs Mitra, said.

It is learnt that besides Dr A N Khan Choudhury and Miss Noor, five other Congress leaders including MLAs are trying to secure ticket for the North Malda Parliamentary seat. According to sources in the Congress, two from Malda including the English Bazaar MLA Mr Krishnendu Choudhury and one leader from Kolkata are in the race. n SNS