Ghani Khan Chowdhury’s niece: ‘SIR is designed to polarise Bengal elections like NRC did in 2021’

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(Express photo by Partha Paul) Make us preferred source on Google Whatsapp twitter Facebook Reddit PRINT Much of the grandeur of Kotwali, once the residence of late Union minister and Congress stalwart A B A Ghani Khan Chowdhury, in Malda town has faded away with time. What endures is his political legacy, now carried forward by his niece, Mausam Benazir Noor, a former MP, and his nephew Isha Khan Chowdhury, the lone Congress MP from Bengal. Noor, who had earlier crossed over to the TMC, has now returned to the Congress and is currently contesting from the Malatipur Assembly seat in Malda district, hoping to revive the party’s fortunes in a state where it currently does not have any MLA. Explaining her switch to the TMC in an interview with The Indian Express, Noor, who had served as a Rajya Sabha MP with the TMC and a Lok Sabha MP with the Congress, said: “I felt that to stop BJP, Congress should have allied with Trinamool in 2019. When that didn’t happen, I chose to join TMC. But votes got split as my cousin Isha Khan Chowdhury contested against me, and ultimately, the BJP benefited.” She acknowledged the strain it caused in her family. “There was tension within the family, and Congress supporters were hurt because people see the Ghani Khan Chowdhury family as guardians. While the Trinamool gave me responsibility and respect, we eventually decided to reunite to carry forward Barkat da’s legacy. Congress is in our blood.” Ghani Khan Chowdhury was popularly known as “Barkat da”. He had been a minister in the Siddhartha Shankar Ray government in Bengal before serving as a Union minister in the Cabinets of Indira Gandhi as well as Rajiv Gandhi, handling key portfolios such as coal and railways. An eight-time MP, he passed away in 2006 but continues to loom large in Malda’s political memory. Recalling his influence, a 60-year-old Congress worker said, “Every morning, hundreds would line up to meet him. Barkat da could be strict, but people knew he would get their work done. That is why his legacy still resonates.” He added, “Until his death, communal tensions were rare in Malda — everyone, Hindu or Muslim, listened to him.” Noor echoed this sentiment, saying, “Ghani Khan Chowdhury was loved for his work and his thinking — secular, development-oriented and focused on peace. People expect me to live up to that. I may not have had the same opportunities yet, but my approach remains the same. We also take pride in being a family which is not associated with corruption.” On the emergence of parties like Humayun Kabir’s AJUP and Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM in the district, Noor said, “In a multi-party system, different parties appeal to different groups. We are reaching out to everyone and focusing on overall well-being. The rest is up to the people.” Flagging Muslim concerns, she said, “There is frustration and a sense of exclusion among them. Changes in OBC categorisation and dissatisfaction over the amended Waqf law have added to this. Many expected stronger opposition from the state government to the Waqf law.” She also criticised the Election Commission (EC)’s Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls, claiming it added to the problems faced by Muslims in the state. Malda, in particular, saw a high number of voter deletions with its two constituencies being among the top 10 seats with the highest number of deletions after adjudication. “Over 60 lakh people have been put under adjudication, including 8.5 lakh in Malda alone, many from the minority community. Several of these areas — Sujapur, Chanchal, Malatipur, Ratua and Mothabari — are where Congress performed well in the Lok Sabha elections. We feel this thing is a scripted plan. It’s a drama. Because the honourable Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee) went to the Supreme Court, all that drama took place and just after that 60 lakh names went under adjudication. We believe this process is not transparent,” Noor claimed. She said, “There are instances of genuine voters being flagged, while the names of deceased individuals remain on rolls. The situation is chaotic. It appears designed to create a polarised atmosphere similar to 2021, when the NRC (National Register of Citizens) became a key issue. At that time, many backed the Trinamool to counter it, but now voters have seen through both the TMC and BJP.” On the Congress’s move to contest the polls without forging an alliance with the CPI(M), Noor said, “We have partnered with the CPI(M) before, but this time the party wants to assess its independent strength. While alliances have benefits, they also limit our ability to field candidates, which can weaken the organisation. We are hopeful of emerging stronger after these elections.” Ravik Bhattacharya is a highly experienced and award-winning journalist currently serving as the Chief of Bureau of The Indian Express, Kolkata. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, Ravik possesses deep expertise across a wide range of critical subjects and geographical areas. Experience & Authority Current Role: Chief of Bureau, The Indian Express, Kolkata. Expertise: Extensive reporting across West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and the Andaman Nicobar Islands. Ravik specializes in politics, crime, major incidents and issues, and investigative stories, demonstrating a robust command of complex and sensitive subjects. Experience: His long and distinguished career includes key reporting roles at several prestigious publications, including The Asian Age, The Statesman, The Telegraph, and The Hindustan Times. Ravik's current role marks his second stint with The Indian Express, having previously served as a Principal Correspondent in the Kolkata bureau from 2005 to 2010. Major Award: Ravik's authority and quality of work are substantiated by his winning of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award in 2007 for Political Reporting. Education: His strong academic foundation includes a Bachelor's degree with English Honours from Scottish Church College under Calcutta University, and a PG Diploma in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Ravik Bhattacharya's extensive tenure, specialized beat coverage, and notable award confirm his status as a trusted and authoritative voice in Indian journalism, particularly for stories emanating from Eastern India. ... Read More Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience  Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More