The buzz is ~ Asok may lose this time

The buzz is ~ Asok may lose this time

21 April 2011

manas ranjan banerjee
SILIGURI, 21 APRIL: The buzz in and around Siliguri now is that the CPI-M strongman in north Bengal, Mr Asok Bhattacharya, may lose in the election battle this time. Unbelievable it may sound to the sympathisers of Mr Bhattacharya, but the post-poll discussions in the area indicates the trend.
A large number of people is anticipating that many, including the traders' community, have betrayed the CPI-M candidate from Siliguri despite his immense contributions over the past 20 years. “People have cast their votes silently in favour of the Opposition alliance, led by Trinamul chief Miss Mamata Banerjee,” said many people. 
“We are expecting a photo finish in the Siliguri Assembly constituency,” said a small trader in Vivekananda mini market in Siliguri. “Asokda may win the seat if the beneficiaries do not betray him,” he added. CPI-M leaders were worried about a whisper-campaign during the election demonstrations. It was campaigned that being an MLA Mr Bhattacharya would not able to do anything when the Trinamul Congress-led government would rule the state.
The state urban development minister had to point out the matter and said: “An odd campaigning is going on against me. If I become an MLA I would be a minister. There is no possibility that the Opposition will come to power in the state.”
But practicality, according to the critics in Siliguri-Jalpaiguri area, people have cast their votes for a change of regime in the state. They said: “Though Mr Bhattacharya was labelled as 'Asok Agarwal' for his closeness with the business community, they also have gone against the CPI-M candidate anticipating wave of change just to keep a close relation with the Trinamul Congress leaders if they come to power.” 
The Trinamul candidate from Siliguri, Mr Rudranath Bhattacharya, said: “People have cast votes silently in favour of the wave of change. Being a candidate I have done nothing but people came forward only for Mamata Banerjee. Voters wanted to make the state free from mayhem.” 
Brushing aside all speculations, CPI-M leader Mr Jibesh Sarkar said: “He would win the seat. The margin may be reduced compared to last Assembly election.”

Hill figures up for new voters

SILIGURI, 19 APRIL: The percentage of poll has remarkably increased in the Darjeeling Hills compared to the last Assembly election. The average poll percentage in Darjeeling district was recorded at 79.68 per cent. It was 78.50 per cent in 2006.
A section of political leaders claimed that the new voters had increased the polling rate in this election and they might be a decisive factor to determine the fate of the contesting candidates in north Bengal amid the wave of change and question of the return of the 8th Left Front government. The percentage of polling in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong Assembly constituencies was recorded at 72.09 per cent, 75.19 per cent and 79.17 per cent, respectively. The rate was on an average 70, 68 and 70 per cent respectively, in 2006, according to the information and cultural affairs department. sns

Election Commission has failed to conduct free and fair poll in Darjeeling: Asok

18 April 2011

sns & agencies
SILIGURI/DARJEELING, 18 APRIL: “The Election Commission has failed to conduct a free and fair poll in three subdivisions of the Darjeeling Hills,” the state urban development minister, Mr Asok Bhattacharya, claimed today. The polling in the Darjeeling Hills was held under the shadow of fear, he said. “As apprehended, the GJMM activists captured several booths. The election agents belonging to the non-GJMM parties, including those of the CPI-M, could not enter the polling stations. The election has been reduced to a mockery of democracy,” Mr Bhattacharya alleged.
Slamming the Darjeeling district administration, he said: “Despite having evidence of GJMM chief Mr Bimal Gururng's complicity in several crimes, the administration had kept on dithering in booking him.”  “We are unhappy with the role played by the Election Commission,” he said adding that his party would lodge a complaint with the EC and the district magistrate tomorrow demanding immediate arrest of Mr Gurung.
Speaking on the issue, CPI-M state committee member Mr Jibesh Sarkar said that the role of the administration was dubious. “Mr Gurung threatened to hound out Mr Subash Ghisingh out of the Hills in public. Is this not evidence enough to have him arrested?” he asked.
GJMM rejects Ghisingh’s proposal
The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) today rejected the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) chief, Mr Subash Ghisingh's demand for sixth schedule status for the Darjeeling Hills and said people would force him out of the Hills for undermining their desire for a separate state of Gorkhaland. Taking offence at Mr Ghisingh repeatedly pitching for the sixth schedule status at his public meetings and media interactions since returning to the Hills earlier this month, GJMM general secretary Mr Roshan Giri said: "Even GNLF supporters are now pained and angry with him."
Mr Ghisingh has for the past few years been a votary of the sixth schedule status ~ a constitutional provision for fast development of tribal areas by setting up autonomous regional councils authorised to take legislative decisions independently and having access to annual grant-in-aids and other additional revenue sources.
"People had thrown him out of the Hills earlier. They will again show him the way out. We don't have to do anything," Mr Giri said after casting his vote.

A section of Lepchas casts vote defying call for boycott

SILIGURI, 18 APRIL: Defying the vote-boycott call by the Darjeeling Hill-based Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association (ILTA), a large section of the Lepcha community today cast votes, particularly in Kalimpong sub-division where the community has a sizable presence.
Notably, the ILTA has gone for the boycott, protesting against the under-development of the community and the government’s indifference to its worsening plight in the fast-changing economic and political trajectory of the Darjeeling Hills. But another organisation, Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Forum, representing the same Lepcha cause, challenged the ILTA boycott decision and asked the community to exercise franchise. The ILTF president, Mr PT Simick Lepcha, said that the poll-boycott decision taken by the ILTA was detrimental to the interests of the community as a whole. “It is an ill-timed decision. We have to remain involved in the process of the participatory democracy to have the collective aspirations fulfilled,” he said. ILTA president Mr LS Tamsang Lepcha earlier said that the mainstream politics in the state had long consigned the community to the periphery. “We are the original residents of the Hills. Yet, we are at the receiving end of the development momentum as we have been reduced to a minority. What is the use of casting votes when we are convinced that we would remain mired in the twilight,’’ he said. Enthused by the Lepchas participating in the election in large numbers in Kalimpong sub-division, the GJMM candidate from the constituency said that it would further improve his prospect of winning the election. sns

Sourav’s poll tips to friend Asok

Sourav’s poll tips to friend Asok

SILIGURI, 15 APRIL: Former skipper Sourav Ganguly, who had gone through several tough battles, has come up to help his well-wisher and ‘friend’ and minister Mr Asok Bhattacharya ahead of the crucial Assembly poll. Mr Bhattacharya, the CPI-M candidate from Siliguri, has decided that he would not read newspapers and watch news on television from two days before the poll. Mr Bhattacharya, in an informal mood, today disclosed that Sourav had called him and asked about his preparations for the election. “Sourav suggested me not to read newspapers and watch television from two days before poll. It would break concentration before the final match”, he said.

Cong gen secy fails to impress, GJMM upbeat. No intention to divide Bengal by giving separate state status to Gorkhaland: Mamata

statesman news service
NAXALBARI/SILIGURI, 14 APRIL: Scores of Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) activists today joined the Congress rally addressed by party general secretary Mr Rahul Gandhi in the hope that the latter would play a positive role in resolving the problem of the Hills in the next round of tripartite talks scheduled to be held in New Delhi after the Assembly election.
Though a section of Congress supporters was not pleased with Mr Gandhi's  speech, the GJMM supporters expressed their happiness over his confidence to throw out the CPI(M)-led government from the state.
A senior leader of the GJMM-backed tea plantation workers’ union, Mr Harihar Acharya, said: “We want to bring about a change in West Bengal to restore democracy. After the Sipchu incident, in which three persons were killed in police firing, it has been well-established that there is no democracy in West Bengal. As a result we have decided to join the rally of Mr Gandhi and extend our support to the Congress-Trinamul Congress alliance here.”
“We hope Mr Gandhi would take the initiative to adopt a resolution in the next tripartite meeting related to formation of a regional authority in the Hills after the election and would support to add the Terai and the Dooars to our ultimate goal of Gorkhaland,” he added.
The Congress's youth icon also impressed students and youths from the Hills. A Class VII student from Hatighisa, Ajoy Tamang, who joined the rally waving the GJMM flag, said: “I have come here to welcome Mr Rahul Gandhi and to hear what he says about Gorkhaland.”
A Class XII student, Miss Sangita Lama, and her friends were also impressed by Mr Gandhi’s appeal to bring about a change in the state. “He is a nice man and always supports Aam Admi. We need a change in Bengal,” Miss Lama said.
When the Nepali-speaking people, including the GJMM-backed tea workers’ union leaders, were happy at the end of the rally, a Congress supporter from Siliguri, Mr Utpal Roy Choudhury, said: “Mr Gandhi could have touched upon the issue of Darjeeling in his speech for the Nepali-speaking people when a large number of GJMM supporters came here expecting he would tell something about the Hills.”

No intention to divide Bengal by giving separate state status to Gorkhaland: Mamata
The Trinamul chief and railway minister Miss Mamata Banerjee today said that she had no intention to divide Bengal by giving separate state status to Gorkhaland.
Addressing a rally at Circus Maidan on Savok Road in Siliguri today Miss Banerjee said that she wanted to develop Darjeeling Hills, not divide Bengal .
“I had told the people of Darjeeling that the Hills would remain within the state. We have to develop that area and have planned to set up a centre of excellence,” Miss Banerjee said.
Besides, Terai and Dooars would be developed to convert Siliguri into Switzerland in the “real sense” as the gateway of the northeastern region, she said. She claimed that her proposed railway projects would connect Sikkim and Bhutan.
Miss Banerjee was campaigning for party candidate, Mr Gautam Deb, nominated for the Dabgram-Fulbari Assembly constituency.
Miss Mamata Banerjee said: “The CPI-M is trying to bring back terminated, frustrated and rotten leaders to rescue the sinking boat of the CPI-M.  Rotten leaders are always rotten... they would not be able to do anything.”
“We can set up industry. We have already set up several factories on railway land. We did not force people to leave their farm lands for setting up industries. We would set up more factories to generate employment for youths here,” she promised.
Miss Banerjee also promised that if the Trinamul Congress comes to power it would set up a mini secretariat for North Bengal in Siliguri.
The Trinamul chief, who was once the member of NDA, today urged the people not to cast vote in favour of BJP, a party that plays the Hindu card in divide votes to help the CPI-M.
“The CPI-M has imported the BJP to divide the vote bank of the Opposition and the Trinamul Congress,” she said

Mamata sought GJMM support, alleges Asok

statesman news service
SILIGURI, 15 APRIL: The state urban development minister and senior CPI-M leader, Mr Asok Bhattacharya, today claimed that the Trinamul Congress chief, Miss Mamata Banerjee, had sought support from the GJMM president, Mr Bimal Gurung, over phone.
Referring to the GJMM media secretary and party candidate from Kalimpong, Mr Harka Bahadur Chhetri, Mr Bhattacharya said that Mr Chhetri has exposed the electoral deal.
“Dr Chhetri has clearly stated in course of campaigning that Miss Banerjee and the state Congress president, Dr Manas Bhuniya, had sought support from Mr Bimal Gurung for their candidates in the plains,” he said.
Notably, Miss Banerjee keeps steering clear of the GJMM, saying that her party has no electoral link with the Hill-based party.
Ridiculing the Trianmul leader's pet theme, the CPI-M leader said that she would neither turn Siliguri into Switzerland nor the Darjeeling Hills into Gorkhaland.
Dwelling on the ‘clandestine’ electoral deal, Mr Bhattacharya said that a senior district Congress leader had met Mr Gurung at Kumani and Jhalong to thrash out the understanding on behalf of the Opposition alliance. “We stand to gain from the hush-hush electoral understanding, involving the Opposition parties and the Gorkhaland protagonists,” he said. Predicting a GJMM decline in the election, Mr Bhattacharya said  the common people would vent their long-pent anger against the authoritarian outfit at the election booths.
“We would do good in the Adivasi-dominated Dooars as the ABAVP stands a fragmented house,” he added. He also sounded confident of retaining the Siliguri seat by a huge margin. “I have extensively toured my constituency. Over 1500 meetings have been held so far. The response is overwhelming,” he said.

CPM to lodge complaint against cops

statesman news service
SILIGURI/DARJEELING, 15 APRIL: The Darjeeling district CPI-M will lodge a "formal" complaint with the Election Commission against the Hills police for their alleged reluctance to extend help to the CPI-M leader, Mr Sitaram Yechury.
The state urban development minister, Mr Asok Bhattacharya, said: “Mr Yechury was stranded for five hours in the Hills yesterday. Police were reluctant to clear the road as GJMM activists were campaigning.”
“We would lodge a formal complaint with the EC against police. Mr Yechury could not attend party programmes. We fear that the atmosphere in the Hills is not safe. The GJMM continues to threaten people in the remote areas to vote for them,” said Mr Bhattacharya.
The CPI-M state committee leader, Mr Jibesh Sarkar, said: “The anti-GJMM candidates will win in the three Assembly seats if the EC can conduct free and fair poll in the Hills.”
Mr Sarkar also said that a section of election officials were proactive to assist the anti-Left political organisation. Mr Sarkar criticised the election officials for issuing a ‘show-cause’ notice to the CPI-M candidate for Siliguri, Mr Asok Bhattacharya, for the alleged distribution of voters’ slips with party symbols.
Protesting against the role of election officials, the Darjeeling district CPI-M had to seek a clarification from the Election Commission.
The officer on special duty, Mr NK Sahana, has informed the Darjeeling district secretary that there was no restriction in the distribution of voters’ slips by political parties if it contains only electoral information.
In a letter to the party, which was issued on 13 April, Mr Sahana maintained: “If the name of the contesting candidate, symbol of the party and its name are shown in the counterfoil tagged with voters’ slip it would be treated as campaign material and the publisher's name is a must. Such a slip should not be distributed within 48 hours before the poll."
GJMM, AIGL and GNLF hold public meetings
Meanwhile, the GJMM, AIGL and GNLF held back-to-back public meetings. The time of the meetings of GJMM and AIGL clashed with each other, while the GNLF meeting in the main town of Darjeeling took place after the meetings of the other two.
Making his influence felt in the Hills, GNLF supremo Mr Subash Ghisingh threatened that his party would take the law into its own hands if the administration failed to act properly. The president of the GJMM, Mr Bimal Gurung, warned Mr Ghisingh to leave the Hills after the election. Aware of a possible violence in the Hills after the election, he said: “I know that the Darjeeling police is not that efficient when it comes to handling law and order situation.
Mr Gurung, while addressing thousands of his supporters outside the Old Super Market in Darjeeling today, said that some “insects” (read Mr Ghisingh) are trying to disrupt the peaceful environment in the Hills.
Mr Ghisingh, who has Z-category protection chose to walk from NP Road to Chowk Bazar (the place where Mr Ghisingh delivered his speech today).  Starting the “blame game” the GJMM and GNLF also accused each other of spoiling the future of the Hills, though Mr Ghisingh stated that the New Gorkha Hill Council (NGHC) under the Sixth Schedule will be the best for the Hills.
Asserting that the GNLF will “win” even if they lose the election this time and that the Hills will turn green again (the colour of his party flag), Mr Ghisingh said: “Election is not the main priority, electing three representatives in the state Assembly is futile, whatever the state government is capable of giving has already been given, the state government can give nothing more, now it is up to the Centre to pass the Bill on NGHC and implement it in the Hills, besides if my party wins any seat in this election then my party might support whichever party that comes to power be it Trinamul Congress or the Left Front.”
Mr Gurung once again iterated that the interim council is a closed chapter and that the GJMM will only raise the demand for statehood in future. Referring to the murder of Madan Tamang for the first time after he was killed in  broad daylight on 21 May, 2010, Mr Ghisingh said that since the Central Bureau of Investigation is probing the matter, it would be unwise to comment on it but the Hill people should not kill their own brothers and quarrel among themselves but fight Kolkata and the Centre.
Though Mr Ghisingh had slammed down the Gorkhaland demand earlier, in Mirik` today he stated that if the people are not satisfied with the New Gorkha Hill Council after it is implemented then his party can always ask for statehood.

Cong high command to take action against Dalu for fielding Independent

SILIGURI, 13 APRIL: The Congress High Command would take action against the Malda district Congress committee president Mr AH Khan Choudhury for fielding an Independent candidate from his family against the party's official candidate, Mrs Sabina Yeasmin nominated for the Mothabari Assembly constituency, the AICC observer for West Bengal, Mr Shakeel Ahmed, said today.
Notably, Mrs Yeasmin was the choice of the Rahul Brigade and Indian Youth Congress leaders selected her. When asked, Mr Ahmed tried to avoid the question about the Mothabari Assembly constituency, but finally he said: “We are concerned about Mothabari after an Independent candidate decided to contest. The matter was discussed. The party High Command has decided to take action against the party leader in Malda. Action would be taken in due time."
Notably, a family member of ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury, Mrs Shahnaz Quadery, is contesting from Mothabari as an Independent candidate after the Congress High Command denied her a party ticket. Mr AH Khan Choudhury, younger brother of Ghani Khan, had recommended the name of Mrs Quadery. She is a niece of Mr Khan Choudhury.
This evening, the Congress suspended 12 members of the party including Mrs Quadery. The West Bengal PCC president, Dr Manash Bhuniya, suspended the PCC members. When contacted, Mrs Quadery said: “I took a primary membership of the Congress from the state PCC. Dr Bhuniya has no right to expel me without issuing notice to me. I have not joined any other party and I am contesting here as an Independent candidate.” "Being a niece of late Ghani Khan it is my birthright to remain associated with the Congress and I would contest from that seat,” Mrs Quadery said. She was adamant to contest from the seat, though the district president had reportedly tried to persuade her to withdraw nomination. Mrs Quadery is the archrival of the north Malda MP, Ms Mausam Noor, over the issue of property rights of their family. sns

Barkatda’s legacy & his reluctant heirs

manas ranjan banerjee
SILIGURI, 12 APRIL: While both Congress and the Trinamul Congress leaders are queuing up to stake claim to the political legacy of late Congress leader, ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury, none of his legal heirs are willing to come forward to clear Barkatda’s dues outstanding to the Centre.
Having been rebuffed by the heirs of ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury, the assistant director of estates, government of India, Mr AD Gupta, has asked the Malda district magistrate to take necessary steps to recover the Centre's outstanding dues, amounting to Rs 4.38 lakh.
The directorate of estates has also requested the district magistrate not to transfer the property of the former railway minister till the office issues a no demand certificate.
The outstanding amount related to unpaid rent/damages claimed in respect of Ghani Khan's official bungalow located at 12, Akbar Road in New Delhi. In its letter issued on 28 February, 2011, the directorate of estates had asked the Malda district magistrate to recover the outstanding dues from the legal heirs of the late Congress leader.
Notably, the relatives of the late Ghani Khan Choudhury had refused to accept the notice of outstanding dues sent repeatedly to the residence of the family. Former district magistrate, Mr Pramal Kumar Samanta, unable to recover the dues because of their non-cooperation is said to have informed the matter to New Delhi.
Declining to comment on the matter, the present district magistrate, Mr Rajesh Sinha said: “I joined here on 31 March this year. I'll ask the concerned department. To recover the government dues, we'll take necessary steps."
South Malda MP Mr AH Khan Choudhury, ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury’s younger brother, hung up his phone when asked to comment on the matter. North Malda MP, Mrs Mausam Noor, also evaded giving an answer, saying it was too sensitive a matter.
Several district Congress leaders slammed the Khan Choudhury family for refusing the pay the outstanding dues. “The family members keep milking the name of the late leader politically, yet they are refusing to clear the outstanding dues incurred by him. Nothing can be more humiliating to the memory of the maker of modern Malda,” said a senior district Congress leader.

Rahul ‘angry’ with AH Khan Choudhury over Mothabari dissident candidate

manas ranjan banerjee
SILIGURI, 11 APRIL: The heads might roll in the Malda district Congress after the Assembly elections as the AICC general secretary, Mr Rahul Gandhi, is supposedly angry with the district Congress president, Mr AH Khan Choudhury, for propping up a dissident candidate against the party High Command-approved candidate at Mothabari constituency.
According to a Youth Congress leader, Mr Baptu Chakarborty, Mr Gandhi has taken a serious note of the matter. “Mr Gandhi expected Mr Khan Chaudhury to dissuade the dissident candidate and his niece, Mrs Shenaz Quadery. But she remains in the fray against the Opposition-alliance-backed Congress candidate, Mrs Sabina Yeasmin, who is also the district Youth Congress president,” he said.
Notably, the Youth Congress has fielded its followers in seven out of the 65 seats allotted to the party in the state following the seat-sharing arrangement with the Tirnamul Congress. Mrs Yeasmin is one of them. She belongs to the faction being led by Mrs Mausam Noor, who is also the state Youth Congress president. Mrs Noor is known for her proximity to Mr Gandhi.
The party activists close to Mr Khan Chaudhury looked worried over his political future with his intransigent posturing regarding the Mothabari-candidature having won ire of Mr Gandhi.  “We are particularly worried as Mr Khan Chaudhury keeps telling people that he would be inducted in the Union ministry following the start of the Assembly elections. The mistake might cost him dear in the coming days,” one such district Congress activist said.
“The history might repeat itself for the district. The political future of the legendary Ghani Khan Chaudhury turned bleak following a trifle involving the former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi. He was thrown out of the Union cabinet and he was not re-inducted since. The same predicament might befall his younger brother for his impetuous stubbornness regarding the candidature at the Mothabari constituency. He should have taken action against his niece, Mrs Shenaz Quedery. Maybe, his affection for her would prove his nemesis,” said a senior Malda district Congress member.

Assembly Election 2011 : DISTRICT DOSSIER - MALDA

TERRITORY OF UNCERTAINTY...

10 April 2011

MALDA has always thrown up surprising election results paying no heed to the ongoing wave in the state. Political leaders are anticipating “unexpected” results here this time too, writes Manas Ranjan Banerjee

Following delimitation, Malda has got 12 Assembly constituencies ~ one more than earlier. The new seat ~ Mothabari has come up on bank of the Ganga comprising a major part of erosion hit Kaliachak-II block which was under Manikchak Assembly segment earlier. Three old Assembly segments ~ Araidanga, Kharba and Kaliachak ~ have been renamed as Malatipur, Chanchal and Baishnabnagar respectively. The delimitation exercise has helped both the CPI-M and the Congress. Now English Bazaar and Baishnabnagar seats have become “safe” for the CPI-M after exclusion of some Congress-dominated areas.
The CPI-M used to contest 10 Assembly segments and the LF partner Forward Bloc used to contest from Harishchandrapur. This time, another LF partner RSP is contesting from Malatipur. Congress had to settle for nine seats with three seats being contested by the Trinamul Congress ~ Manikchak, Malatipur and Habibpur.
The BJP has fielded 12 candidates as well. Political observers feel that the Trinamul and the RSP may open their account in the Assembly poll 2011 in Malda this time around. The BJP would divide anti-Left votes in Hindu tribal and other backward class dominated areas of Habibpur, Gazole and Baishnabnagar seats, denting the hopes of the Congress-Trinamul Congress alliance. Though the district was a Congress stronghold under the leadership of the late ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury, the LF had been able to bag more Assembly seats than the Congress on earlier occasions. The LF had bagged 10 seats out of 11 in 1987. The LF had secured six seats in 2001 and seven in 2006 in Malda.
But, after Mr AH Khan Choudhury and Mrs Mausam Noor won the two Lok Sabha seats in 2009 here, the Congress had been able to obtain sizable margin in all 11 Assembly segments (except Habibpur, a red bastion) out of 12. Interestingly, people of Gazole, another red bastion in tribal dominated Barind belt, had preferred to cast their vote in favour of the Congress candidate, Mrs Noor. She had obtained 64,308 votes but  the CPI-M candidate, Mr Sailen Sarkar, had secured only 61,335 votes. Records show that though the Congress has been able to increase its percentage of votes in parliamentary elections, it has not been able to increase its percentage of votes in the Assembly elections in Malda. The Congress had obtained 45.88 per cent votes in parliament elections in 2004 and 50.96 per cent votes in 2009 and the CPI-M had obtained 38.16 per cent in 2004 and 39.31 per cent in 2009. But, in Assembly elections 2006, the Congress had achieved only 39.87 per cent votes with the LF bagging 45.23 per cent votes.
In 2008 panchayat polls, the LF could not recover the Malda zilla parishad, which was under the control of the Congress-Trinamul Congress and the BJP alliance.
Despite remarkable results in favour of the Congress in last general elections, the CPI-M-led LF leaders here are targeting to win eight seats out of 12, identifying four seats ~ Sujapur, Chanchal, Mothabari and Manikchak ~ as Congress strongholds. The CPI-M leaders seem overconfident about two seats ~ Habibpur and Gazole. The LF cadres have been asked to retain and recover the rest six seats ~ Baishanabnagar and English Bazaar in south Malda and Harishchandrapur, Malatipur, Ratua and Malda in north Malda parliamentary segment.
Out of these eight seats, English Bazaar is the centre of a prestigious fight for both the CPI-M and the Congress. Though the BJP candidate, Mr Gobinda Mandal, former English Bazaar municipality vice chairman, is contesting here, residents are interested to know about the fate of the sitting Congress MLA, Mr Krishnendu Narayan Choudhury who is up against former English Bazaar CPI-M MLA, Mr Samar Roy. He became a ‘consensus’ candidate just two days before the announcement of the LF candidate list. This is the first time, the CPI-M state secretariat directly nominated Mr Roy even though the CPI-M district committee for English Bazaar had proposed the name of Mr Kaushik Mishra.
This was following mutiny announced by almost all CPI-M cadres, supporters and well-wishers of the party, except a group of CPI-M members led by a veteran leader, Mr Sailen Sarkar. In 2006, Mr Krishnendu Choudhury was elected on a Congress ticket defeating Mr Roy by a margin of only 906 votes. Political observers are looking forward to five interesting Assembly segments ~ the Mothabari, Manikchak, Malatipur, Baishnabnagar and Habibpur ~ following internal squabbling in the Congress camp and in the Ghani Khan family. In Mothabari, Mrs Sabina Yeasmin, sabhadhipati of Malda zilla parishad, has been nominated as the Congress candidate as recommended by the leaders of the Rahul Brigade ignoring the district Congress president, Mr AH Khan Choudhury’s recommendation. Interestingly, Mr Khan Choudhury’s candidate (read niece) Mrs Shanaz Quadery is contesting as an Independent.
The north Malda MP, Mrs Mausam Noor has been campaigning for Mrs Yeasmin. An apparently upset Mrs Yeasmin said: "I am a Congress candidate. I feel bad when a family member of Barkat-da is maligning the Congress using the name of Ghani Khan. But Mrs Noor is doing her best for me." In Manikchak, the Trinamul candidate, Mrs Sabitri Mitra, who was former district Congress president and MLA from Araidanga, has been able to pacify the rebel Congress leader, Mr Ram Prabesh Mandal, former Manikchak MLA, to withdraw nomination. Mrs Mitra may bag the seat as two Congress-dominated gram panchayats ~ Milky and Sobhanagar from English Bazaar ~ have been added to Manikchak.
Trinamul candidate from Malatipur, Mr Gautam Chakraborty, is contesting against the RSP candidate, Mr Rahim Boxi, Zilla Parishad member and also an Independent candidate, a rebel Congress leader, Mr Al-Beruni, son of late Congress Golam Yazdani, former MLA and MP.  Mr Al-Beruni has enough influence to divide the vote of the Opposition here. "It is a matter of regret that Dalu-da (AH Khan Choudhury) has not taken any initiative to withdraw the nomination of Al-Beruni. Despite my request, Mrs Noor has not campaigned for Mr Gautam Chakraborty in Malatipur,” Mrs Sabitri Mitra said. In Baishnabnagar, the son of Mr AH Khan Choudhury, Mr Isha Khan Choudhury, an inexperienced Congress candidate, is facing difficulties in garnering votes against the CPI-M candidate and sitting MLA, Mr Biswanath Ghosh.
 Mr AH Khan Choudhury said: “The area was not suitable for us. I have to work hard for him." He claimed that the Congress-Trinamul Congress combine would win at least nine seats in this district.   Voters in Habibpur Assembly constituency, where the BJP had made a strong base, are divided into three groups as the Trinamul decided to field Mr Mohan Tudu, who has been elected zilla parishad member from a BJP ticket earlier. The situation is improving in favour of the CPI-M candidate, Mr Khagen Murmu. Electors would settle the destiny of veteran Marxist leader, Mr Sailen Sarkar, the state environment minister, in Ratua seat against Congress's Mr Samar Mukherjee. Mr Sailen Sarkar, who is in no position to walk owing to his ill health, has adopted Ghani Khan’s style creating sympathy among the people as majority voters say: “This is the last election of Sailen-da.”

‘As Barkatda desired, CPM will be thrown into sea’

The Congress-Trinamul Congress seat adjustment has miffed many Congress leaders in the state, especially in three districts: Malda, Murshidabad and North Dinajpur ~ traditional stronghold of the party. The Malda district Congress president and MP, Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, had initially declined to leave any seat for the Trinamul in his district. But, in the end he had to accept the high command's directive. In a conversation with Manas Ranjan Banerjee, the Congress MP bares his mind. Excerpts.

.. Q: A decade earlier, Congress stalwart ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury had proposed to make a grand alliance with Trinamul Congress supremo Miss Mamata Banerjee, but he was unhappy on the issue of seat-sharing. In 2011, the seat adjustment has taken place. How will the alliance work? 
A: It will yield good results. We will be able to come to power in the state. A long time ago Barkatda wanted to throw the CPI-M into the Bay of Bengal. I think his dream will be fulfilled this  time. 
Q: But the seat adjustment process has received a setback in three districts of Malda, Murshidabad and North Dinajpur. You too did not agree to give up seats to the Trinamul in Malda, a Congress stronghold. Why? 
A: I did not want to give any seat to them. But when the party high command finalised the seat adjustment with the Trinamul, my opinion ceased to matter. So we decided to accept the decision, because there is nothing above the high command. We are trying to pacify angry Congress leaders and supporters. 
Q: Are you happy with the number of seats? 
A: I will not comment. 
Q: You have already campaigned in the Manikchak Assembly constituency for Trinamul candidate Mrs Sabitri Mitra. You have asked two Congress leaders to withdraw their nominations from Manikchak and Malatipur Assembly segments allotted to the Trinamul and decided to terminate them if they do not abide by the instructions. But, in Mothabari Assembly constituency why is your family member (niece) Ms Shahnaz Qadri contesting against the party’s official candidate, Mrs Sabina Yeasmin? Did you ask her to withdraw her nomination? 
 A: Shahnaz is my niece. She has just expressed a different opinion. I recommended her name. She was selected even in the AICC’s screening committee, but suddenly the decision was changed and the high command nominated Mrs Sabina Yeasmin. We didn’t have information about Sabina. Still we are in the dark about who nominated her. I asked her to withdraw her nomination. If she does not withdraw her nomination, I can't do anything. She is adamant and has decided to contest the election from the seat because Shahnaz had been nourishing the segment over the past two-and-a-half years. 
 Q: Congress leaders claimed that Ghani Khan was the symbol of integrity and communal harmony in politics as well as guardian of the minority people. But during your tenure, being the president of Malda Congress Committee (MCC), a section of leaders termed your committee as Muslim Congress Committee. Why? And why did the confidante of Ghani Khan, Mrs Sabitri Mitra, and another senior leader Mr Gautam Chakraborty join the Trinamul? 
 A: They are wrong. Apart from them other leaders are still on the committee. Mrs Mitra or Mr Chakraborty were more opportunistic and decided to join Trinamul following Somen Mitra, Sudip Bandyopadhay and others. 
Q: People say ABA Ghani Khan was the symbol of Malda’s development. Projecting the theme of his development you and your family members have been contesting the elections. But after Ghani Khan, people say, you and other members have failed to bring overall development in Malda. Your reaction? 
A:  We tried to set up Ghani Khan Choudhury Institute of Engineering and Technology. The Central government had allotted funds for the project. We have been able to stem severe erosion on the left bank of the Ganga. Development depends on the Central government’s policy. A total of 300 crore has been allotted from the Rajiv Gandhi electrification scheme for Malda.
Q: Ghani Khan had good relations with Indira Gandhi and you are also close to Mrs Sonia Gandhi. You had demanded ministerial berth. Do you think ministerial berth is imperative to develop the area? Is there any chance for you? 
A: There is, no doubt. A Cabinet minister has free access… lot more than an MP.  For example, if I want to meet Mrs Sonia Gandhi, I will have to wait for two-three days for an appointment. A proposal from a Cabinet minister carries more weight than an MP and it gets importance for its implementation. Had I been a minister, I would definitely have brought more development for the district. Barkatda was state and Union minister for many days, so he was able to develop the district. 
Q: You and your family members and the Congress leaders in Malda have been projecting ‘Barkatda’s development’ before every election. Your niece Mausam Noor had also projected her uncle in the last Lok Sabha poll and now your son Mr Isha Khan is projecting your elder brother’s name in Baishnabnagar Assembly constituency. How long would the tradition continue? 
A: Barkatda is history. People misunderstand us and think that we are using the charisma of ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury. He is my bother. He belongs to my family. I have the right to use his name. I cannot use any name of a CPI-M leader. We remember his name as we remember Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and other leaders. But it does not mean that I am using his name. People know me as the brother of Barkatda. 
Q: Is it applicable for your son? 
A: A few people know that he is my son. But he has been automatically introduced as a family member of Barkatda by the people. Is it wrong? 
Q: A section criticises your family for always nominating your heirs. Your reaction. 
A: My father and even my grandfather were in politics. My elder brother had decided to introduce more family members successfully. I decided to field my son in the Assembly election because we are now aged; young faces are needed from our family. It is natural that the son of a doctor will become a doctor... what is wrong if my son becomes an MLA or an MP?