Congress split over choice of candidate for Jamalpur

Differences within the state Congress over selection of candidates from Jamalpur ward came to the surface during a meeting held late on Monday night at state party chief Siddharth Patel's office at Oriental House.

A Congress MLA from the minority community is believed to have accused the party leadership of neglecting his supporters while choosing candidates for the area.

Sources in the Congress said that the MLA warned Patel and other party leaders that they should not field outsiders from his area (Jamalpur) as it is he who spends money and energy to ensure their victory. The MLA is believed to be at loggerheads with Imran Khedawala and Yusuf Saiyad, the incumbent corporators from Jamalpur ward.

Supporters of Khedawala alleged that the MLA wants to finish the corporator's political career as he [Khedawala] poses a threat to him as a rival for the party ticket from Jamalpur in the assembly elections. In fact, Khedawala had wanted to contest the assembly polls from Jamalpur in 2007 and was considered the best candidate for the job as he had won the corporation election by a margin of around 17,000 votes.

The sources said the miffed MLA does not have a particular candidate in mind to replace Khedawala. Yet he is putting pressure on the party high command not to field Khedawala from Jamalpur in the upcoming civic elections.

When DNA talked to the MLA, he denied that any such incident had occurred. However, one of the MLA's supporters said they were upset by the fact that candidates from outside Jamalpur were being considered for party tickets from the ward.

"The reality within the state Congress belies the popular perception that leaders from the minority community have a great say within the party," said the supporter.