CPM supporters campaign with their candidate Abdur Rezzak in Malda on Monday. (Surajit Roy)

Malda, March 23: The CPM today launched its campaigning in the South Malda Lok Sabha seat projecting Abdur Rezzak as its candidate, while Congress nominee for the constituency Abu Hashem Khan Chowdhury is still in Delhi grappling with the citizenship issue of his brother Abu Naser.

The local leaders of the CPM kick-started the campaign at Netaji Subhas More in Englishbazar, close to the residence of Congress MLA Krishnendu Chowdhury, at 8am. They went around in Wards 8, 9 and 10 of the municipality, seeking votes for Rezzak.

“We are trying to cover every inch of the constituency with our candidate. We have not yet seen any of our rivals in the fray as yet,” said Indrajit Mitra, the CPM’s local committee secretary.

Rezzak, Mitra said, was a respected academician from the district. “He retired as the principal of Sultanganj College in Kaliachak and had also taught in Malda College. He was also a district secretary of the West Bengal College and University Teachers’ Association.”

Taking a dig at his rival, Rezzak said since the two-and-a-half year that Abu Hashem won the Lok Sabha byelections in Malda, he had nothing to show. “If you ask him about his achievements, you will not get any answer. I am appealing to the electorate to vote me for the Lok Sabha polls so that the area can be developed,” the CPM candidate added.

The sitting Malda MP, Abu Hashem, however, said he would return to Malda on Wednesday. “The complications over the citizenship issue of my brother Abu Naser who is the projected candidate for North Malda is not yet over. We are hopeful that the no-objection letter from the Swiss government on the citizenship issue will arrive much before the last date of filing nominations, that is on April 9,” Abu Hashem said over the phone from Delhi. He said he had assured the AICC general secretary in-charge of Bengal, K. Keshava Rao, about receiving the papers on time.

Sujapur MLA Mausam Noor said Congress workers have started campaigning on behalf of her uncle, Abu Hashem, in South Malda. “Yesterday I went to Kaliachak to campaign on his behalf. I will hold a party workers’ convention in Mothbari this evening. However, we are waiting for developments in Delhi to launch our campaign in North Malda.”

She said she was certain that her Lebu Mama (Abu Naser) would be the candidate for North Malda Seat. Asked if she would be fielded in case Abu Naser was not considered, pat came the reply from Mausam: “Just wait for a few days and see.”