The ruling Awami League (AL), as it appears, is concerned over the party’s absolute victory in the forthcoming Upazila polls as there are rebel candidates, internal feuds and above all the BNP in the election race, revealed reports received from different parts of the country.
Though the local government election is held on non-party basis but the major political parties take the matter seriously and try their best to field single candidate to ensure victory of the party backed candidates.
Though the election is not on party basis in papers but in reality the selection of candidates is done on party consideration and matter is left to the local level leadership.
As the BNP did not participate in the just held 10th parliamentary polls, the ruling party did not have to face any challenge in it but the party has become worried over victory of the party backed candidates following participation of the BNP led alliance in the Upazila polls, reports said. The Upazila polls, as it appears, has become a matter of prestige issue for the AL.
One top leader of ruling party talking on condition of anonymity said the Upazila election has already lost its neutral character as victory or defeat depends on party support. He said centrally the party would do its best to ensure victory of the party backed candidates. Action would be taken if there is any rebel candidate, he said.
In Khulna’s Dighilia Upazila Gazi Asgar Hossain and Touhid Mia and in Koira Upazila GM Mohsin Reza, Mostafa Rafiqul Islam,Keramat Ali, SM Shafiqul Islam and Abdus Sattar Par from Awami league are contesting the Upazila election. If so many candidates contest in the election race, it would be hard to win it, he said expressing concern.
Some government leaders including senior ministers have started using harsh words against the BNP for contesting the Upazila election. They are making such provocative statements out of apprehension of facing tough contest in the Upazila polls, said some analysts.
In four out of six Upazilas in Sylhet two candidates representing the ruling party are contesting the election. Besides, in 40 districts including Sirajganj and Panchagarh more than one candidate of the ruling party are in the Upazila election race.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has formed seven committees headed by either presidium member / member of the advisory committee for scrutiny and final selection of candidates, office secretary of the ruling party Abdus Sobhan Golap told the media.
The committee began its organizational tours from Thursday to ensure victory of the AL backed candidates, he said.
The leaders of the committee, AL source said, would try to resolve organizational weaknesses so that ultimately single candidate contest the polls to snatch away victory.
The BNP led 19 party alliance on the other hand, has already started finalization of candidates to field single candidate to ensure victory of the party backed candidates. Participating in the Upazila polls the BNP wants to strengthen the party organizationally, BNP leader Dr. Osman Faruk said.
He said that his party would field single candidate to contest the Upazila polls to ensure victory of the party backed candidates. If the election is held in a free and fair manner, their candidates would do very well, he said. The party won in the recently held five city corporation elections despite all odds, another BNP leader recalled.
