The 25th Assembly District in Queens, New York – traditionally a South Asian stronghold – is now a witness to an electoral battle that threatens to fracture the community.

Morshed Alam, who is running for a seat in the state assembly, and Dilip Nath, contesting as district leader, accused Assembly candidate Rory Lancman of racism and bigotry.

However, prominent community members such as Uma Sengupta, Democratic district leader of the 25th NY Assembly District; Taj Rajkumar, a member of the Democratic state committee; and prominent activist Jagir Singh Bains defended Lancman.

The seat in question was held by Brian McLaughlin, who is stepping down as assemblyman, as well as relinquishing his position as a district leader, because he faces prosecution in an alleged bid-rigging scheme.

The assembly district covers Fresh Meadows, Richmond Hill, Flushing Jamaica, Whitestone, Hillcrest and Kew Gardens Hills.

Alam and Nath organized a protest rally in front of Lancman’s campaign headquarters on Union Turnpike. They accused Lancman of attempting to run unopposed in the primary election, by ‘his ruthless use of the Queens County Organization election system, in order to harass and intimidate South Asian Americans and force them off the ballot for the September election.’

The Democratic party is backing Lancman for the assembly post, along with his running mates Joe Dorsa, Mary Ann Dorsa and Uma Sengupta, contesting for district leaders. They are being challenged by Alam, with running mates Harjinder Duggal, Leela Maret, and Dilip Nath.

To be on the ballot for the primary scheduled for September 12, a candidate has to submit 500 signatures of registered Democratic voters. Although Alam and others submitted more signatures endorsing them than was required, the Queens County Democratic Organization challenged it on the grounds that many signatures were not of party members.

Alam and his mates alleged that it was a way to eliminate them from the ballot so that Lancman and his team can win the primary unopposed, which formed the basis for their protest. A state court later ruled that Alam’s name alone could remain on the ballot. His three running mates have filed an appeal in federal court.

Chuck Mohan, chairman of the Immigrant Coalition for Democracy and the primary organizer of the demonstration, said, “This community is outraged that their leaders, as new immigrant Americans, are being denied their constitutional rights, to run for public office by the double-dealing and unethical campaign methods of Rory Lancman. His racist and xenophobic actions are unbecoming of a candidate seeking public office in Queens, the most diverse community in the nation.”

Sean Finnerty, Lancman’s campaign manager, denied the allegations. “Morshed and Dilip are playing the race card to hide behind their own fraudulent conduct in submitting petitions, where the overwhelming majority of signatures are from people who either aren’t registered Democrats or who don’t live in the district,” he told India Abroad.

“But such duplicity is nothing new for Morshed, who is also quietly running on the Republican line as the Queens County Republican Party endorsed candidate, and was caught recently by the New York Observer for distributing flyers falsely claiming that he was endorsed by Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-27th District). "If the Board of Elections disqualifies their fraudulent petitions, they have no one to blame but themselves.”

Uma Sengupta was equally critical. “As the first South-Asian Democratic district leader, I am outraged that anyone would blame racism for their having not gotten enough valid signatures to get on the ballot,” she told India Abroad. “If these candidates are so concerned about South Asians having the opportunity to run for office, why did they challenge my petitions to prevent me from getting on the ballot?”

”I have worked closely with Rory for many years, and no one has done more to bring South Asians into the political process than Rory. Indeed, I would never have become a district leader if it weren’t for Rory Lancman. As a lawyer, Rory has represented many South Asians who have been discriminated against,” Sengupta added.