Photo : Messenger
In a calculated move to infuse a semblance of competition into the upcoming 12th parliamentary elections and in response to the void left by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party's (BNP) decision to boycott the polls, the ruling Awami League (AL) is orchestrating an unconventional strategy.
The AL is urging the Jatiya Party (JP-Ershad) to step up as the primary opposition force, transcending the bounds of traditional political alliances.
In an unprecedented maneuver, the Awami League is encouraging its own partymen to contest against the officially nominated Member of Parliament (MP) candidates. This strategic tactic, beyond fostering electoral competition, is designed to be a catalyst for increased voter engagement in the imminent January 7 general elections.
The Jatiya Party, recognised as a formidable opposition entity in parliament, has proactively called upon the Awami League to withdraw its candidates from approximately 60 constituencies. This call aims to create a political landscape favorable for Jatiya Party candidates, enabling them to play a more robust opposition role in the upcoming 12th parliament.
The crux of the Jatiya Party's appeal lies in concerns over contending against the widely recognized Nouka (boat) symbol and the aspiration for an unimpeded trajectory to success in the imminent elections.
High-level talks between leaders of the Awami League, Jatiya Party, and the 14-party alliance have been dominated by negotiations and a delicate balancing act to meet the Jatiya Party's expectations.
Addressing the matter, General Secretary of the Awami League, Obaidul Quader, said, “We aim to conduct a free, fair, competitive, and peaceful election. We have directed our party leaders running as independent candidates to uphold discipline during the election hours.”
Regarding the seat-sharing matter with the Jatiya Party (JP) and alliance partners, Quader mentioned, “Discussions on the issue are nearly complete. All aspects will be clarified by December 17. This is a crucial juncture, especially if the JP decides to participate in the polls as the main opposition, given BNP's boycott.”
In the 14-party alliance, there is no dissatisfaction within any party regarding the seat-sharing arrangement, stated Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, the joint general secretary of the Awami League. He mentioned that regular meetings are ongoing, and the issue of seat-sharing will be resolved very soon. The candidates of the alliance's participating parties will vote using the boat symbol. Additionally, candidates from the 14-party alliance outside the seat distribution also have the option to choose a party symbol in the election.
"The discussion on seat-sharing with the Awami League for contesting the upcoming elections is yet to complete. However, this agreement is entirely normal in democratic elections," said Mujibul Haque Chunnu, secretary general of JP. "
Meanwhile, the Jatiya Party has been the Awami League's principal ally in the past three elections, playing a pivotal role in the opposition within the last two parliaments. As another election looms on the horizon, tensions between the Awami League and the Jatiya Party have reached a crescendo.
Both the Awami League and the Jatiya Party have unveiled the names of their candidates for 298 and 287 constituencies, respectively. In the 2018 national polls, the Awami League strategically refrained from fielding candidates in 26 constituencies where Jatiya Party nominees contested, resulting in the JP securing victory in 21 of those seats.
However, the scenario was different in the 145 constituencies where candidates from both the JP and the AL competed, as nominees from the opposition party lost their security deposits in all of these contested areas.
According to the EC announced schedule, the final date for withdrawing candidacy is December 17. A total of 5,864,430 new voters were enlisted in the country’s voter list while of the total voters, 60,445,724 are male and 58,704,879 are female.
Besides, 837 transgender voters were incorporated under the identity of the third gender in the updated roll.
Messenger/Disha
