CPM announces candidate for polls, Cong still in dilemma

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 13 OCT: While the Congress is still in search of a candidate for the Sujapur by-poll, the CPI-M today announced its candidate in Mr Esaruddin Mandal for the same.

Mr Mandal alias Ruku is from the party's youth wing. He was nominated after another leader Mr Haji Ketabuddin refused to contest the by-poll despite the party’s urging.

Mr Ketabuddin, an elected member of the Malda zilla parishad had contested in the last Sujapur bypolls and was defeated by Miss Mausam Noor. He is also the secretary of the local committee.

The CPI-M might have its share of problems on the Sujapur by-poll issue but the Congress faces an even steeper hurdle.

The Congress high command has already asked its state leadership to nominate someone as the potential candidate Mr AN Khan Choudhury is facing problems in filing nomination due to complexities arising out of his citizenship issue.

Though Mr Khan Choudhury applied to the ERO in Malda yesterday to include his name in the electoral rolls so that he can contest the Sujapur by-poll on 7 November, it is uncertain whether he would get required time to file nomination.

Despite that, the Congress has not been able to nominate its candidate so far. It is learnt that one Mrs Sehnaz Qadri, a niece of the South Malda MP Mr A H Khan Choudhury, is trying to secure a Congress ticket to contest the Sujapur by-poll.

But the Congress is yet to finalise her as, she is allegedly no the North Malda MP's favourite and a family dispute over the rights of properties exist between them.

In the meantime, three popular Congress leaders from Sujapur, Mr Hamidur Rahman, Mr Humayun Choudhury and Mr Mahibur Rahman are in the race for a Congress ticket.

A section of Congress leadership does not want to accept any female candidate for the seat even if she is from the Ghani Khan family.