After trouble erupted in its Malda unit over nominations, the neighbouring Murshidabad, another Congress stronghold, has become the party’s nightmare. This after, local Congress strongman and sitting MP from Behrampore Adhir Choudhury has pitted an Independent candidate, Mehdi Alam Mirza, against the party’s official nominee for Murshidabad constituency, Mannan Hussain.

Choudhury’s contention: Hussain, the sitting MP from Murshidabad, did no work for his constituency.

“Mannan Hussain never worked for his constituency, nor did he try to develop it. Hussain never actually fought against CPM here like Adhirda did. I believe in Adhirda. He is our leader from this district. Therefore I have decided to contest as an Independent,” said Mirza to The Indian Express.

The Congress, which was earlier hopeful of retaining the seat, now fears that it may end losing the seat to the CPM which has fielded state minister for animal husbandry Anisur Rahaman. Congress sources say that the defeat, if it happens, will be primarily because of the split in the anti-CPM votes. During the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, Hussain had won the seat by only 15,480 votes.

Meanwhile, Hussain, expressed confidence of winning the polls but admitted “such moves will divide and weaken the Congress in the district” and refused to say more on Mirza’s nomination. The move has embarrassed the Congress. Spokesperson of the party’s district unit Ashok Das said: “It is someone’s personal choice to stand as an Independent candidate. What can I say?”

Ahead of the announcement of the nominations, Choudhury had written to top party leaders in Delhi urging them not to give ticket to Hussain since he did no do any work in the constituency for the past five years. While, the party re-nominated Choudhury from Behrampore, it chose to ignore his plea and went ahead with re-nominating Hussain.

On March 28, AICC observer Bishnuprasad had rushed to Behrampore and held a closed door meeting with Choudhury and Hussain. After the meeting, it was decided that both the sitting MPs would work together during the elections. In 2004, the Congress had won all the three Lok Sabha seats in Murshidabad district — Jangipur, Behrampore and Murshidabad.