After the delimitation, the Malda constituency was split into Malda South and Malda North, from where Ghani’s brother and Malda MP Abu Hashem Khan Choudhury wants to field Abu Naser Khan Choudhury, another of Ghani’s brothers.

Two days ago, Hashem, who is also Malda district Congress president, announced Naser’s candidature from Malda North. But, on Thursday, the Congress declared Mausam Noor as its official candidate. Noor, a Congress MLA, is the daughter of Ghani’s sister, late Rubi Noor.

Soon after the announcement, Hashem, who is contesting on a Congress ticket from Malda South this time, flew into rage and has now threatened to field Naser as an Independent from Malda North.

Naser is a resident of Switzerland and a Swiss national. According to AICC sources, he has failed to produce papers regarding his Indian nationality, which hampered his prospects vis-à-vis Noor, who is also relatively young.

“I have been stabbed in the back. It is not only Noor’s doing. She is not that strong. There are others behind this,” Naser said, adding he had even begun campaigning. “AICC leaders told me long ago to start campaign. But they said a formal announcement would be made later. Now, they are saying Noor is the candidate.”

He said he had informed the AICC it would take him some time to submit the proof of his nationality. “I told them I would furnish the documents before I file my nomination papers.”

“How dare the AICC choose a candidate without consulting district leaders? The whole of Malda will protest. We are thinking of fielding Naser as an Independent,” said a visibly angry Hashem.

Congress sources said there has been a rift between Noor and Hashem ever since the former was elected as an MLA from her mother’s seat of Sujapur. Noor has gained much popularity in Malda since then. “I am not a part of any controversy. My party ultimately wanted me to be the candidate and therefore I will fight the elections. The people of Malda are with me and I will start campaigning soon,” said Noor over phone from Delhi.

Hashem defeated CPM’s Sailen Sarkar in the Lok Sabha by-polls held in September 2006 by a margin of 83,391 votes. This time around, the CPM has fielded Sailen Sarkar from Malda North and Abdur Rezzak from Malda South.