West Bengal assembly polls: Dissent in Murshidabad Congress after two-time MLA denied ticket

KOLKATA: Dissent over nomination spilled in the Congress after its two-time sitting MLA from Murshidabad expressed her angst over dropping her name from the candidate list this time. Pratima Rajak, Congress MLA from Burwan has written a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi alleging that her name was dropped following some baseless speculations.
Pratima Rajak, Congress MLA from Burwan had won from the constituency for two consecutive terms in 2011 and 2016.She had been a zilla parishad member too. Congress leader Shiladitya Halder was nominated this time to contest from the seat reserved for the scheduled caste candidate.
In her letter to Gandhi, Rajak wrote that despite being a sitting candidate she did not get a ticket this time. “I am in the dark. I am not contacted by the district president or the PCC president."
She alleged that rumours and speculation have been spread about her in the past few months. “Perhaps you have been informed that I am not willing to contest this year because of my newly married life and family hazards. But it is not true. No one took my consent regarding this. As a dedicated party leader, I think I deserve the minimum courtesy. It is very difficult for a new candidate to win the seat,” she wrote to Gandhi.
Abu Henna, district president of Congress said, “she may have grievances and has a right to express that. But she should remember that the list is finalized by the top leaders in Delhi. I would request her to work with the party as she had so far been doing."