Neither Trinamul nor Left Front untouchable: Dalu
STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE
Malda, 31 July
“Neither the Trinamul Congress nor the Left Front is untouchable for us to form the board in Malda Zilla Parishad (MZP). Whoever we seek the support from, there is no doubt that we would come to power in the MZP for the third consecutive time and our motto would be development,” said the district Congress President and Union Minister of State (MoS) AH Khan Choudhury (Dalu) after an hour-long marathon meeting with the block and district Congress leaders today.
However, the political observers believe that out of desperation to retain power in MZP, the district Congress is further getting confined in a maze.
It may be mentioned that the Congress won 16 seats in MZP this time which is less than the magic number of 20. The Left Front (LF) has also obtained 16 seats in MZP while the Trinamul has got six seats. MZP has altogether 38 seats.
The Congress ruled the MZP for two consecutive terms, first in 2003-2008 and then in 2008-2013. Interestingly, former Congress Sabhadhipati Mr Goutam Chakraborty is now a senior Trinamul leader.
Another Congress Sabhadhipati, Mr Ujjwal Chowdhury, also quit the Congress and this time was elected to MZP as a Trinamul candidate.
A senior Congress leader, on condition of anonymity, said: “ZP is the centre of rural administration and holding power in ZP helps in reaching a large number of people and strengthening the organisation. Hence, it is essential for us to retain MZP particularly to prevent the erosion in our party that has already shaken us.” But the Congress cannot form the board without the support either from the LF or from the Trinamul though both of those parties are arch rivals of the Congress.With an eye to get out of the maze, Dalu today met the Congress leaders of all tiers but no solution could be attained. While a large number of Congress leaders strongly opposed an alliance with the Trinamul and batted for a tie with the LF, some others favoured an alliance with the Trinamul despite the bitter relations between the Congress and the Trinamul.
“In context of the political equation since the 2011 Assembly election, striking an alliance with the Trinamul in getting power in MZP will be a suicidal decision for us.
The Trinamul will go to all extent to prevent our growth. Moreover, we must not forget the recent example of Siliguri Municipal Corporation where the Congress had to pay dearly for having an alliance with the Trinamul,” said a Congress MLA.
Another Congress MLA said: “Barkat Da (late Ghani Khan) always maintained a congenial relation with the LF for the sake of development. Hence, it will neither be immoral or against the principle of the party to seek support from the LF in running MZP following the example of UPA-I government in the Centre.”
However, a senior Congress general secretary favoured the Trinamul as an ally. “It will be a wrong decision to go against the Trinamul as they are in state power. There is nothing wrong in tieing up with them too.” “It is unwise to battle with a crocodile while you are dipping into the river,” he said.
Amid several arguments and counter arguments, the district Congress leaders could not clarify their stand at the end of the meeting. Dalu said: “We will form the board and none except the BJP is untouchable for us. We have already spoken to the state leaders. Whatever decision we take, will be in favour of the development of the district.”
It may be mentioned that the Trinamul leader and Tourism Minister Mr Krishnendu Choudhury has already said that the Chief Minister Miss Mamata Banerjee would decide about the MZP.
The CPI-M district secretary, Mr Ambar Mitra, said: “We will contest for the MZP Sabhadhipati post unless we are requested by any other political party. In that case, the state leadership will resolve the matter.”