divided they stand Statesman News Service
MALDA, March 15: In a development that will definitely interest the Congress’s foes, it has emerged that the Malda Congress leaders are divided on the choice of candidate for the North Malda Lok Sabha seat.
Following media reports that have been on air since last night, a section of Congress leaders ~ followers of Malda MP Mr AH Khan Choudhury and his elder brother Dr AN Khan Choudhury ~ today held a Press conference at the party office and declared that “nothing has been finalised” for the seat.
It may be noted that the electronic media had reported that two names ~ Mrs Sabitri Mitra and Miss Mausam Benazir Noor ~ have been sent to Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi for final selection.
The media did not mention the name of Dr Khan Choudhury, which had been proposed by his younger brother, for the North Malda seat.
Party sources said Dr Khan Choudhury’s name was “questioned” by the screening committee a few days ago on the issue of his disputed citizenship. He had been in Switzerland for a long time and had recently applied for resumption of Indian citizenship after having renounced his Swiss citizenship. Whether he had indeed renounced his foreign citizenship has been a matter of debate.
Addressing the Press conference, one of the general secretaries of the Malda Congress, Mr Hassan Ali Shah, said: “Congress workers of North Malda Lok Sabha constituency are confused following the media reports. They are asking us who has finally been selected as the candidate. We are not in a position to answer properly.”
“Our district president Mr AH Khan Choudhury has instructed us from New Delhi to inform the electorate through the Press that the AICC has not declared any name officially till date,” Mr Shah said.
“Many are demanding that the candidate be selected from (former Union minister) ABA Ghani Khan’s family,” he added.
It is learnt that posters in favour of Dr AN Khan Choudhury have been found in parts of Old Malda block.
Another general secretary, Mr Mostaque Alam, said: “Some well-wishers may start campaigning for him. But we have to accept whichever candidate is selected by the AICC.”
On the other hand, Mrs Mitra, the MLA from Araidanga and former district Congress president, has already started workers’ meetings in Araidanga, Gazole and other parts of North Malda constituency.
“I wanted to contest from North Malda. I had submitted my application to the observer, Mr Saqil Ansari, seeking a ticket for this seat. I am hoeful of getting AICC’s nod, although I must accept any other candidate announced by the AICC. I am holding party workers’ meets that will go in favour of any Congress candidate for the North Malda Lok Sabha election,” Mrs Mitra said.
A large section of Congress leaders including MLAs are arguing that only one member from Ghani Khan’s family should be selected, and not two. They argue that since Mr AH Khan Choudhury has been selected for South Malda constituency, the second (North Malda) candidate must be Hindu because a large part of North Malda constituency is Hindu-dominated.
Citing an example of the CPI-M, they said that the Left party has nominated a Hindu candidate, state environment and parliamentary affairs minister Mr Sailen Sarkar, for North Malda, and a Muslim candidate, Dr Abdur Razzaque, to take on Mr AH Khan Choudhury in South Malda constituency. (END)
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