The Kotwali residence of the Khan Chowdhurys. Picture by Surajit Roy

Malda, April 14: A fresh coat of paint awaits the stately Kotwali residence of the late A.B.A. Ghani Khan Chowdhury while it is spruced up for Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s visit on April 28.

“The house was last painted in 2006 when Soniaji was supposed to come and visit my brother but could not because of a tight schedule,” said Malda Lok Sabha MP Abu Hashem Khan Chowdhury. “We will apply a fresh coat of paint before she visits us at the end of this month.”

Sonia is expected to drive to the Khan Chowdhury residence directly from the temporary helipad nearby and pay her respect at the former railway minister’s grave. The helipad will be made on a football field beside the Mahananda.

“The mazaar (mausoleum) of my brother is about 150 meters from our house and we have ordered a long carpet to be laid along the path through which Soniaji will walk,” Abu Hashem added.

Ashis Kundu, a Congress councillors of the Englishbazar Municipality, said the mausoleum was being further beautified with marbles and tiles. “This is the first time Soniaji is coming to Malda after addressing an election rally in Sujapur on April 28, 2006, just after Barkatda’s death.”

Today was the second death anniversary of the Congress patriarch — Barkatda to his supporters — who was dubbed the “architect of Malda”.

Back at the Kotwali residence, Ghani Khan’s sister, Ruby Noor, said: “I have told my brother (Abu Hashem) to go to the AICC headquarters and find out about Soniaji’s preferences in food as she will have lunch with us.”

The Khan Chowdhury family intends to present Sonia with a muslin saree, which has been ordered from a weaver in Sujapur, family sources said.

The Congress has made arrangements for Sonia to address a public rally at Sujapur and another in Murshidabad before she leaves for Calcutta.

Party sources said Sonia was initially scheduled to arrive here on April 21, but the visit was postponed because the Trinamul Congress has called a bandh on that date.