Campaign sans candidate

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 23: The Congress in North Malda has decided to launch poll campaign in the constituency without a candidate.

Frustrated with the Central leadership's delay in announcing the name of a candidate for the North Malda constituency, Congress workers of the area have decided to go ahead with campaigning on the strength of the party symbol ~ candidate or no candidate.

“We were waiting for the announcement of our party candidate for North Malda. Under the circumstances, we decided to instruct the party workers and zonal leaders to start campaigning with the party symbol from today,” said the Chanchal block Congress president, Mr Sachchidananda Chakraborty.

“We would just paint the party symbol for now and write the candidate's name after the high command declares it. We expect the AICC to announce the North Malda candidate's name by Wednesday,” Mr Chakraborty added.

The general secretaries of the Malda district Congress, Mr Mostaque Alam and Mr Hassan Ali Shah, however, claimed that Dr A N Khan Choudhury would get the ticket for North Malda.

“The AICC would announce his name today or tomorrow. The controversy over his Indian citizenship has been resolved. He is waiting for a ‘no objection’ letter from Switzerland,” they said.

It is, however, learnt that the Malda Congress MP and district Congres president Mr AH Khan Choudhury has been asked to select an alternative candidate if his elder brother fails to secure a clearance to contest. The rumour in the Congress camp is the newly elected Sujapur MLA Miss Mousam Benazir Noor could be the alternative candidate for North Malda. (END)