Trinamul in Trouble

"It is a strategic move"

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 4 MAY: The Trinamul in Malda seems a confused lot. First, the organization faced embarrassment when two of its candidates claimed they were contesting from the same ward for the Old Malda civic polls. Hardly had the Trinamul succeeded in burying the controversy when it finds itself saddled with another and this time in English Bazaar.

The latest hiccup occurred for the Trinamul after its candidate Mrs Chaitali Sarkar, wife of senior Trinamul leader Mr Dulal Sarkar filed nomination for two wards (ward nos. 22 and 20) in English Bazaar. Mrs Sarkar submitted nomination for ward no. 22 yesterday and today, she filed nomination for ward no 20. Incidentally, Trinamul candidate Mr Biswajit Sen had filed nomination for ward no. 20 following the state leadership’s instruction and as recommended by Mr Dulal Sarkar”, claimed the Trinamul district president Mr Goutam Chakraborty, passing the buck on fellow leader Mr Sarkar.

Mr Sarkar on his part, said: “It is a strategic move. In the changed scenario, Mrs Antara Roy would contest from ward no. 22 on a Trinamul ticket and my wife , Mrs Chaitali Sarkar would take on the CPI-M ion ward no. 20”.

The Trinamul Congress has also changed its candidate in ward no. 5 in English Bazaar and claims to have nominated a better one.

Meanwhile, the Congress, Trinamul and BJP nominated respective candidates for ward number 24 in English Bazaar. The ward traditionally enjoys a major Left support base, so much so that the CPI-M candidate won uncontested form the ward in the last civic polls.

“We would not give the Left, particularly the CPI-M the satisfaction to win from the ward unopposed like the last elections”, said the English Bazaar Congress MLA Mr Krishnendu Choudhury.