.. 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?
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