Siblings on sympathy boat

They belong to the same dynasty? siblings of former MP of Malda Ghani Khan Chowdhury.

They belong to the same dynasty— siblings of former MP of Malda Ghani Khan Chowdhury.

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They also live in the same house — the Kotwali Bhavan. And at a point of time, they basked under the glory of elder brother Barkatda. But today they are coming out of the shadow and emerging as leaders of Malda in their own right.

Congress district president and MLA Ruby Noor and MLA A.H. Khan Chowdhury (popularly known as Daluda) are the new torch-bearers of Ghani Khan Chowdhury’s legacy in Malda. After Ghani Khan Chowdhury's death, they are the new stars on whom people are depending to carry out the unfinished work of Barkatda and maintain the Congress hold on Malda.Congress legislator from Shujapur, Ruby Noor entered politics in 1991 when then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi gave her the ticket to contest from the district. She won the elections. Thereafter, she contested in 1996 and 2001 from the same constituency and was elected.

“I owe my success to bhaiyya (Barkatda). I learned the ropes of politics from him. I used to discuss everything with him and carry out his instructions. With bhaiyya not around, I am under tremendous pressure. But the love people are showering on us gives me hope. I think I will be able to carry on bhaiyya’s work,” said Ruby Noor. Ever since Barkatda's death, Ruby Noor has stopped going up to the floor in Kotwali Bhavan, where Barkatda lived. She is yet to reconcile to his death.

Expecting to win by a margin of 40,000 votes this time, Noor says the sympathy factor for Barkatda's family members in his absence is going to make a difference.

“Not just me and Dalu, but other Congress candidates would also benefit from the sympathy wave,” she said.