CPI-M, Cong yet to announce candidates for ward 11 by-poll

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 21 MAY: After the debacle of losing two Malda Lok Sabha seats, the CPI-M will contest against the Congress again in a by-poll of ward no 11 in English Bazaar Municipality (EBM) on 28 June.

It may be noted that the South Malda MP Mr AH Khan Choudhury had got a 767 leading margin in terms of votes from ward no 11 over his nearest CPI-M candidate Dr Abdur Rzaaque in the Parliamentary election. Neither the CPI-M and the Congress have finalised the name of their candidates to be fielded in ward no 11.

After the murder of Biswanath Guho, councillor of ward no 11, no by-polls were conducted over the last year. Guho was the vice-chairman of the EBM and he was also district president of the Intuc. At present, the Congress leaders are facing difficulties in choosing a candidate out of 16 applicants including the family members of Guho.

The town Congress president has received two applications from Guho's family including his daughter.

The English Bazaar MLA, Mr Krishnendu Choudhury, who is in Delhi today, said over the phone:

“We shall nominate one candidate out of 16 contenders shortly. But we are not in a position to nominate a family member of Guho”.

The CPI-M leader in English Bazaar town, Mr Indrajit Gupta, said: “Mr Shymal Chakraborty has come to Malda to review the post poll situation. Within a few days we

will announce the name of our candidate to contest from ward no 11”.

“The Congress candidate for South Malda LS seat bagged more votes from two minority people dominated polling stations in ward no 11. In this election minority people had decided to vote for the Congress for security reasons, preventing the BJP from forming the Central government,” Mr Mitra said.