They are uncle and nephew. They had contested against each other in 2010 Kolkata Municipal Corporation election from ward number 65. Both had lost but that has not deterred them from fighting against each other again. Their claim to fame: they are both related to Rizwanur Rahman whose mysterious death in 2007 which both insist was murder, had sent shockwaves in the entire state.
Rizwan was found dead near railway tracks only a month after his marriage to Priyanka Todi, the daughter of an industrialist, Ashok Todi.
Rukbanur Rahman is Rizwan’s elder brother while Akilur Rahman his uncle. Rukbanur has been fielded by the Trinamul Congress from Chapra in Nadia district against CPI(M)’s Shamsul Islam Molla. Now his uncle Akilur who has no love lost with Rukbanur has also entered the fray. Akilur who had contested the KMC poll as independent candidate is contesting as Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP candidate. Asked why has he come all the way to Chapra to contest against his own nephew, Akilur said: “After Rizwanur’s tragic death we had started the movement for justice together. But midway Rukbanur sold his soul to a political party ( read Trinamul Congress ). He left the fight for justice unfinished and devoted all his time an energy on building his own political career. My fight is against politicisation of Rizwanu’s tragic demise,” he added.
The 54-year-old bearded uncle claimed that people in Tiljala area where Rukbanur lived were unhappy with his selfish turn.
“This was the reason he was defeated in the KMC polls when local people did not vote for him,” he added. Meanwhile, in a mysterious turn of events, the windshield of the vehicle Rukbanur is using for campaigning was found smashed. He lodged a complaint with the Chapra police station on Sunday.
Rukbanur alleged that unnerved by his growing popularity in the constituency the CPI(M) was trying to create trouble for him. Rukbanur did not rule out the involvement of his uncle either.
“He uncle caused my defeat in the KMC polls last year and now he is again out to spoil my poll prospects,” he added.