Ghani Khan Choudhury's Enduring Legacy Shapes Malda's Political Battle
As campaigning for the 2026 West Bengal assembly election enters its final phase, the Congress party in Malda district is strategically foregrounding the enduring legacy of the late ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury, two decades after his death. In a region where his political imprint continues to shape voter memory and behavior, Congress aims to convert deep-seated nostalgia into crucial electoral support in what is anticipated to be a fiercely close contest.
Mausam Benazir Noor's Return: A Test of the 'Barkat da Factor'
This electoral strategy has been significantly reinforced by the high-profile return of Mausam Benazir Noor to the Congress fold after a seven-year stint with the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Noor, the late leader's niece and a two-time Member of Parliament, is now contesting from the Malatipur constituency. Her comeback is being positioned not merely as a political recalibration but as a deliberate attempt to revive the powerful emotional connection historically associated with the Khan Choudhury family.
Her re-entry into Congress politics is now widely viewed as a critical test of whether the so-called "Barkat da factor"—the enduring electoral appeal of Ghani Khan Choudhury—still retains substantial weight with Malda's electorate. "We belong to Ghani Khan's family, and people believe we continue his legacy. Thus, we have a lot of responsibility and obligation as well," Noor stated emphatically. "Our party is not in government at either the state or central level, but in Malda, Ghani Khan Choudhury's legacy keeps Congress relevant and strong."
Campaigning Amidst Reconciliation and Reflection
While campaigning at Maharajpur village in Malatipur, Noor openly acknowledged the political fallout from her 2019 exit from Congress. "When I left Congress, I hurt many feelings, especially of the Gandhi family, as Ghani Khan Choudhury and Sonia Gandhi were very close. But the situation got sorted after I returned. I am personally happy to be back to my roots and family," she reflected. Noor had originally quit Congress after the state leadership rejected her push for an alliance with the Trinamool Congress.
However, her electoral fortunes notably dipped outside the Congress fold. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, she suffered a defeat to BJP's Khagen Murmu, marking a significant break from the electoral dominance long associated with her uncle's political bastion.
Next-Generation Leadership and Family Legacy
In Malda town, the Congress campaign is being vigorously spearheaded by Malda South MP Isha Khan Choudhury, the next-generation face of the family, who has emerged as the party's most visible leader in the district. "Ghani Khan Choudhury's legacy inspires us every day and it is that very legacy and the people's love for our family that keeps Congress so strong in this part of Bengal even today," the MP asserted. "We believe in his strategy of standing next to the people of Malda, even if we are not in government," he added, speaking from the family home in Kotwali, seated beside garlanded photographs of Ghani Khan and Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, his father and Ghani's brother.
Historical Impact and Contemporary Political Landscape
Ghani Khan Choudhury, a Union minister under Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, is still vividly remembered across Malda for his transformative contributions, including expanding railway connectivity and driving critical infrastructure development. His distinctive style of grassroots politics helped build a remarkably durable support base that continues to influence voter sentiments and political alignments.
Nevertheless, Congress now confronts a far more complex and fragmented political landscape. In the 2021 assembly elections, the party failed to secure a single seat in Malda, while the Trinamool Congress captured eight of the district's twelve constituencies. The Bharatiya Janata Party, which has made steady inroads since 2019, currently holds four seats, effectively transforming the electoral fight into a highly competitive triangular contest.
Rival Parties Reinterpret Legacy and Push Development
The Trinamool Congress has actively sought to reinterpret Ghani Khan Choudhury's legacy for its own political advantage. "We respect Ghani Khan Choudhury, and take inspiration from what he did for Malda," stated Abdur Rahim Boxi, the Trinamool MLA from Malatipur and Noor's principal rival. Boxi had won the seat in 2021 by a commanding margin of over 91,000 votes.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party is campaigning aggressively on a platform of development and governance, attempting to expand its electoral footprint and capitalize on shifting voter alignments within the district.
Cautious Optimism and Electoral Challenges
Within Congress circles, there exists a sense of cautious optimism that Noor's return could help reconnect with voters who had drifted away, particularly in rural pockets. However, the absence of any formal alliance with the Trinamool Congress, coupled with the BJP's growing and assertive presence, has rendered the electoral arithmetic considerably more challenging.
With all three major political parties actively staking claim to Malda's political space, the contest is increasingly being framed as a decisive battle between competing narratives: the enduring power of political legacy, the efficacy of welfare delivery, and the promise of sustained development.
