M M Jasim :
A good number of heavyweight candidates of both the ruling Awami League and the main opposition BNP may be dropped out from the polls race due to internal feud, unpopularity and the alliances’ lot of aspirants.
According to inside sources of the AL and BNP, these two parties will not select any candidates who are involved in internal feud in their respective constituencies. Some of the central leaders of both the parties currently holding big posts but have no popularity in their respective areas will be dropped out from the election race.
The top two parties are yet to decide about the distribution their seats among the allied parties. They also are still undecided about the specific constituencies, which will be given up for their allies.
In this circumstance, many strong candidates are worried about their nomination and some of them are continuing lobbying to protect their constituencies.
Contacted, a number of AL leaders told The New Nation on Monday that the party would primarily select their candidates for the 300 parliamentary constituencies scrutinising 4,023 nomination-seekers by Wednesday and then would decide seat sharing with allies. However, hectic negotiations were going on.
In the meantime, AL Presidium Member Shahara Khatun, Organising Secretaries BM Mozammel Haque and Bahauddin Nasim, former Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir, former Telecommunications Minister Raziuddin Ahmed Razu and Joint-General Secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanok are in the drop out list.
The AL insiders said, there are many top level leaders are also in the drop out list and their names have not yet disclosed fearing disorder in the party.
They said the selection board has finalised candidates for 250 seats. Some of them may be deducted after sitting with the allied parities.
A top AL leader wishing anonymity told The New Nation that the party candidates must oblige the central decision in the greater interest. “If any one tries to disobey the party’s decision they will have to receive adverse impact from the party men,” he said.
AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday said, the party might offer nomination for 65-70 seats to the allies. “If there are more candidates who might win the polls, the number might be raised through discussions,” he said.
Two ministers from the Jatiya Party (Ershad) said that the party demanded 65 seats. JSD demanded 30 seats while Workers Party 15 seats.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami placed in the BNP-led alliance a list of 60 aspiring candidates while other parties in the BNP-led alliance were demanding nominations for about 40 seats.
The Nagorik Oikyo on Saturday officially submitted a list of 35 aspiring candidates to Jatiya Oikya Front leaders.
JSD demanded nominations for 20 seats and would expect confirmation for 15 while Krishak Sramik Janata League were seeking nominations for 25 seats and expected at least 8.
BNP’s central leader Mujibur Rahman Sarwar may lose his seat (Barishal-5) as his political activities since 2010 are in questioned. Even, he was silent during the last Barishal City Corporation Election, the party leaders and activists said.
BNP’s Joint-Secretary Moazzem Hossain Alal and Bilkis Jahan Shirin are lobbying to get nomination from the seat. The party insiders said Sarwar might lose the constituency.
BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan said it is indeed that they are in pressure in distributing seats among the allied parties. But it would not be any problem as all parties in both the alliances were ready to sacrifice in the greater interest of the nation.
About the heavyweight candidates drop out, he said, “We are ready to sacrifice everything in the interest of restoring democracy in the country.”
