Ghani Khan Chowdhury is no more. But his shadow looms large over Malda, his stronghold for decades.
KOLKATA: Ghani Khan Chowdhury is no more. But his shadow looms large over Malda, his stronghold for decades. The all pervading ‘Ghani Khan’ effect can be seen across the 11 constituencies in this North Bengal district.
Even the Communist Party of India (Marxist) is out on the campaign trail trying to co-opt the legacy of the Congress strongman, who passed away just ahead of the polls on April 14. Hailed as the ‘true son of Malda’, Abu Barkat Ata-ul Ghani Khan Chowdhury converted his home district into a stronghold of the Congress. Malda sent him to the Parliament seven times since 1980.
Of the 11 constituencies in the district, the CPI (M) bagged six in 2001, while five were won by the Congress. Mamta Banerjee’s Trinamul Congress virtually does not exist here. The CPI (M) is at best hoping to retain the six seats, while the Congress is aiming to increase its tally.
The Congress is going the full distance to ride the sympathy wave that is clearly evident in Malda. After all Chowdhury is credited with having converted the sleepy hamlet of Malda into a modern town.
According to the Congress MLA from Araidanga, Shabitri Mitra, the people of Malda will never forget Chowdhury’s contributions for the district. “Barkatda is in the soul of the people and hence they will vote for the Congress,” Mitra said.
The campaigning line is same for all the other sitting Congress MLAs from the district like Mahbubul from Kharba, Mostaq Alam from Harishchandrapur, Chowdhury’s sister, Rubi Nur from Sujahpur and Chowdhury’s brother Abu Hasan Khan Chowdhury from Kaliachak.
So pervasive is Ghani Khan’s legacy that the CPI (M) too cannot ignore the late Congressman. Hence the Left too is recounting Ghani Khan’s achievements and singing his praises. CPI (M) district secretary in Maldah, Jiban Moitra, told DNA: “Despite differences in political ideology, we can never deny Chowdhury’s contribution to Malda.”
The CPI (M) says it can keep up the pace of development, started by Ghani.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}