Abdul Karim Choudhury, the Trinamul MLA of Islampur in North Dinajpur, is backing the Independents he has fielded against his party's official candidates for the July 8 rural polls.

“I am seeking votes for the Independents and not for those fielded by the party. Time and again, I have made it clear that being the local MLA, I should select the candidates. As it didn’t happen, I have fielded them as Independents,” said Choudhury, a political veteran in north Bengal.

In north Bengal, Choudhury is the only Trinamul MLA to take such a stand. However, party MLAs from south Bengal like Humayun Kabir and Manoranjan Byapari have expressed discontent with the party's state leadership over the selection of candidates.

According to sources, Choudhury fielded Independents, basically his supporters in Trinamul, in two zilla parishad seats, 27 seats of panchayat samiti and 134 gram panchayat seats in Islampur block.

“A section of Trinamul leaders here are using money and muscle power. Let me make it clear that I will put in every effort to thwart any attempt at violence during the polls,” he said.

The MLA’s decision to field Independents, Trinamul insiders said, widened differences among various lobbies of the party.

“In fact, workers of two lobbies, one headed by the MLA and the other by Kanaialal Agarwala (the Trinamul chief of North Dinajpur district) clashed in Chagharia under Matikunda-1 panchayat of Islampur block, on Wednesday night,” said a party leader.

Three of Choudhury's supporters got injured and are under treatment at the Islampur subdivisional hospital. A police team brought the situation under control.

Agarwala said they have sent a detailed report about Choudhury’s decision to the party.

Trinamul 'absent'

At Gobindapur gram panchayat in Islampur, Trinamul candidates are absent from all 23 seats of the panchayat and three seats of Islampur panchayat samiti. Sources said the reason is acute difference of opinion between party district chief Kanaialal Agarwala and Chopra MLA Hamidul Rehman over the selection of candidates for these 26 seats.