Photo : Messenger
After a series of high-level meetings between the ruling Awami League and the main opposition party in the current parliament, Jatiya Party (JP-Ershad), both parties have reached a consensus to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for January 7.
In a significant compromise, the Awami League, as the ruling party, has officially declared its nominated candidates for 261 parliamentary seats. To accommodate its alliance partners, the party has decided to sacrifice 26 seats for Jatiya Party (JP) and an additional 6 seats for its 14-party alliance.
“Awami League has given up six constituencies for its alliance partners and 26 for the Jatiya Party in the January 7 national election,” said AL office secretary Biplab Barua while talking with reporters at the Election Commission.
Biplab came to inform the EC about the withdrawal of party contestants in seats where they will field alliance candidates.
In these designated seats, there will be no Awami League-nominated candidates, showcasing a collaborative effort to strengthen the coalition.
Over the past few days, there had been uncertainty among the top leaders of the ruling party regarding Jatiya Party's decision to participate in the upcoming elections.
The Jatiya Party was reportedly seeking assurance from Awami League of securing victory in at least 30 seats. However, as the withdrawal of candidatures approached, the cloud of uncertainty dispelled when Jatiya Party officially announced its participation in the elections.
Following the declaration by JP Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu at a news briefing earlier, confirming the party's decision to contest in 283 seats, the announcement was consistent with the information conveyed by the party's chairman.
Mujibul Haque Chunnu shared this critical update with journalists at the party chairman's office after three o'clock on Sunday, shedding light on the party's stance in the upcoming elections.
The compromise between the ruling Awami League and Jatiya Party underscores a collaborative approach aimed at ensuring a fair and participatory democratic process. The seat allocation reflects a delicate balance between the interests of the two major political entities and their coalition partners.
Addressing speculations, Mujibul Haque stated, "There is no alliance. There has been no seat-sharing agreement. However, there are some strategies in certain constituencies."
Sources from both the Awami League and Jatiya Party (JaPa) reveal that JP aspires for withdrawal of candidatures of AL nominated candidates to secure victory in 26 constituencies.
Furthermore, JP also expresses a desire for independent candidates from the Awami League to step aside.
However, in the lead-up to this decision, party leaders and activists had been demonstrating in front of the JP headquarters since the Sunday morning. Some dissatisfied leaders and activists, advocating for a boycott, expressed their discontent by displaying banners with slogans such as 'No to corruption on the path to power' and 'Not participating in the election, but boycotting it.'
Consensus-bound constituencies in the spotlight:
There has been an agreement between the Awami League and the Jatiya Party in Thakurgaon-3, Nilphamari-3 and 4, Rangpur-1 and 3, Kurigram-1 and 2, Gaibandha-1 and 2, Bogura-2 and 3, Satkhira-2, Patuakhali-1, Barisal-3, Pirojpur-3, Mymensingh-5 and 8, Kishoreganj-3, Manikganj-1, Dhaka-18, Habiganj-1, Brahmanbaria-2, Feni-3, Chittagong-5 and 8, and Narayanganj-5 constituencies. Among these, there was no AL nominated candidate in Narayanganj-5.
Among the 14-party alliance, the Workers Party has secured two seats, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) three seats, and Jatiya Party (JP-Manju) one seat. For them, Awami League has relinquished seats in Bogura-4, Rajshahi-2, Kushtia-2, Barisal-2, Pirojpur-2, and Lakshmipur-4.
Messenger/Disha
