Muhammad Quamrul Islam :
Now it would be in fitness of things to make a socio-political review of the party wise electoral positions expecting a qualitative change in politics through the local government elections transparently. It is time Election Commission (EC) as well as main stream parties actually two parties’ high commands take action on different reports of violence, allegations and concerns displayed in the media leading to the first phase of Union Parishad elections to be held on March 22, 2016.
In the first phase polls to be held in 732 Union Parishad (UP) where 16 parties out of 40 parties registered with Election Commission have put up candidates in varying numbers; actually it would be an electoral fight between ruling Awami League (AL) and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Why rest 24 parties out of 40 could not field any candidate though they are registered and in politics it is open secret, more known to main two parties’ top leaders. Because small parties cajole them to forge alliance for personal aggrandizements at home and abroad. EC may check their past records, why and how they were registered during One- Eleven regimes in 2008 and whether those parties are to be kept on record now as they only look for pelf and power, not at all concerned with people and ideological politics survive as party through press releases and signboards. Such small parties also vitiate the political atmosphere and hamper the normal growth of main two parties through inner party democracy and purging as necessary in both. Would the 38 parties out of 40 be ashamed of their performance?
In the midst of media reports and complains by opposition BNP and candidates, to which EC reacted and disposed off it is found as per procedure 62 AL candidates have been elected uncontested. Apart from this there is no candidate of BNP in 57 UP. These two features need further technical analysis by EC, AL and BNP so that it does not recur in next phases. Variety of reasons may be adduced, but field factual truth obviously known to each political party. So excluding those elected uncontested there will be election of 670 UP Chairman. In one UP there is no candidate of AL. It would be straight fight between boat-sheaf of paddy in 612 UP.
From AL 731 candidates out of 732 are running with Boat symbol, as one of its nominated candidate at Shialkathi UP in Upazila Kaukhali District Perojpur is contesting from another party, bicycle of JP Monju, which has a Minister in the cabinet. It will have to face BNP. If local AL support bicycle it would be defeating the spirit of party wise local government elections, as in other countries, which should be looked into by party high command. On the other hand, 613 candidates with BNP sheaf of paddy are in the contest out of 732 UP which shows there is no BNP candidate in 119 UP. It requires both inner party high commands as well as EC to review the position to rectify the situation and do the needful for ensuring competitive elections in future instead of holding legal procedure in defense by EC and parties hurling usual accusations recurrently. At present EC is to take all out measures for free and fair polls, safety and security of the voters and candidates.
Obviously small parties in 14 party alliances and Ershad Jatiya Party playing dual role as government and opposition and others outside those are in the field with their respective symbol to show their existence and presence having no programme for the people but protecting self. They are- Jatiya party127, JSD29, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, Workers Party23, JP17, BNF7, Communist Party of Bangladesh(CPB)4, Tarikat Federation1, Jamiate Ulame Islam1, Islami Andolan Bangladesh227, NAP3 and other1. So the expectation of AL Chief PM Sheikh Hasina that this election would enable the small parties to organize themselves at grassroots level or merging of splintered parties into a viable third alternative party needed for functional democracy, would not be realized.
But one good outcome is the manifestation of hollowness of the claims of big leaders of small parties that they have support in the outlying areas among farmers and rural professionals. As this myth touted by those parties having alliance with the two main parties have been exploded in the last municipal elections and in the ongoing UP elections in phase, it is requested two party high commands may dispense with alliance politics, which is the continuation of the illegal Ershad regime that debased electoral machinery, planted domesticated opposition and alliance, voterless election, manipulation of different sorts.
It is also striking that there are 1246 independent candidates out of total 3034 candidates competing for the post of UP Chairman. They did not seek nomination of any of so many parties which show those have no support either. Most of the independents are rebels of AL and BNP and why they are rebels is to be considered by party high commands. It is alleged due to nomination business and other irregularities, deprivation of deserved candidates, this phenomenon recurs. There is no alternative but to request two party high commands to purge the party of bad elements. And take actions against the MPs who interfere in local elections violating law in addition to the duty of EC to book the violators.
Under the circumstances, we are to hope polls would be held peacefully participated by main two parties and ensure the message in the ensuing election carried to the voters for democracy. The civil society based in capital Dhaka including rural intelligentsia country wide has a role to play in conformity with democracies including our next door neighbour Indian state of West Bengal. It is not enough to criticise Election Commission only by NGOs and small party chiefs in alliance with government or outside without going in depth politico-administrative complex of the country. Why competent candidates are not coming up to compete is to be found in the education system also which should produce future citizens and leaders, instead of telling in general terms those competing are not competent. Let us wait to see an improvement.
