By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net
New Delhi: Popular among Nandigram people as Shahider Ma or the Martyr’s Mother, Firoza Bibi, a 60-year-old homemaker, has won the Nandigram Assembly bypoll with the highest margin since the constituency first voted in 1951.
Trinamul Congress candidate Firoza Bibi defeated Paramananda Bharati of CPI (supported by Left Front that includes ruling CPM) by 39,549 votes in the by-election held on January 5, whose result was declared on January 9.
During the violent Nandigram movement in 2007 Bibi’s youngest son Sheikh Imdadul was killed in police firing on March 14, 2007.
“I have lost my son – Raja (Imdadul’s nick name). His character was similar to a king and he sacrificed his life during the fight. This win is dedicated to my son’s sacrifice and others who also sacrificed their lives. With this verdict, I have received a chance to live with many sons and I will be vocal in the Assembly to resolve the false cases filed against many people in Nandigram in district by the police” she told media.
It is widely said that the police had targeted Raja because he was trying to carry the injured away from the battle zone.
The government had tried to acquire farmland for a chemical hub in the area early 2007 and Nandigram, located about 170 km southeast of Kolkata, at the meeting point of the Hooghly and the Haldi Rivers, remained theatre of political violence all through 2007. The farmers resisted their land acquisition. After much violence involving police and Communist cadres, which saw several deaths in the Muslim dominated area the government had to shift the project from there.
The Nandigram seat fell vacant after sitting CPI MLA Sheikh Mohammed Ilyas resigned following disclosure, in a sting operation, of his involvement in corrupt practices.
Besides Nandigram in East Midnapore, the bypoll was also held for Para and Sujapur assembly seats in Purulia and Malda districts respectively. While Mausam Noor of Congress won Sujapur Minu Bauri of CPM won Para seat.