Photo : Messenger
As the country gears up for the ensuing 12th parliamentary polls, the ruling Awami League's (AL) unconventional move to field its own party leaders as independent candidates is proving to be a double-edged sword.
In an attempt to enhance the participatory nature of the upcoming polls and ensure a satisfactory voter turnout, this uncharted election strategy has sparked intra-party feuds, potentially disrupting the peaceful atmosphere essential for a fair election.
Despite repeated directives from the party's upper echelons, urging both independent and official nominees to refrain from engaging in internal conflicts, reports suggest that clashes are erupting in some constituencies.
In certain areas, independent candidates are overshadowing their party-endorsed counterparts, while elsewhere the official nominees are entangled in violent clashes, all in a bid to secure victory in the January 7 national elections.
Party insiders are suggesting that Awami League-backed independent candidates could be the trump card for achieving a robust voter turnout. They argue that for the January 7 elections to be truly inclusive and legitimate, with a satisfactory voter participation rate, independent candidates should be given the opportunity to work freely and fearlessly to mobilise voters on Election Day.
Addressing the issue, Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, on Saturday, urged her party's nominated candidates and party-backed independents to engage in door-to-door campaigning to solicit votes, emphasising the importance of ensuring voter turnout in the upcoming polls.
“We want people's participation in the election, and they should be able to cast their votes peacefully so that no one can raise any questions about the legitimacy of the polls,” remarked Prime Minister Hasina.
Speaking to this correspondent, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader emphasised the festive atmosphere prevailing throughout the country in the lead-up to the elections.
He expressed the party's strong desire for peaceful elections, vehemently opposing any form of violence associated with the electoral process.
Quader further underscored Prime Minister Hasina's commitment to a violence-free and tranquil election.
Quader clarified that the party would support any legal measures taken by the Election Commission in the event of violence involving either party-nominated candidates or independents.
He asserted that the AL would not endorse any violent activities during the election period and would not tolerate any misconduct either.
“Those who are candidates from our party, and those who have become independent candidates, are, in fact, activists of our party. Therefore, there will be no bias or hostile environment within our party. We do not want any biased reactions during the election,” said Quader, emphasising the unity within the AL.
Concerning the internal conflicts surrounding the January 7 elections, AL Presidium Member Jahangir Kabir Nanak stated, “We aspire to conduct peaceful and violence-free elections.
Party leaders must refrain from engaging in internal disputes during the campaign for the polls. Individuals involved in intra-party feuds will be subject to organisational actions following the elections.”
Besides, ever since the official election campaign kicked off on December 18, reports of clashes between backers of the party's official candidates and those supporting independent contenders got surfaced in numerous parliamentary seats.
The confrontations turned out to be violent, resulting in hundreds of injuries, with a significant number of the wounded being local-level leaders and activists affiliated with the AL.
With the onset of the 12th parliamentary polls, the widespread influence of the AL has become evident. AL-nominated candidates are actively participating in the race for 266 seats, while 382 independent candidates are vying for 221 seats. Notably, a substantial portion of these independent candidates have originated from the AL itself, challenging its own officially nominated candidates in the January 7 polls.
Since the inception of the campaign for the polls, conflicts and confrontations among supporters of rival candidates have shown no signs of abating. Reports of campaign camp vandalism and the tearing of posters further contribute to the escalating tensions.
Over the past seven days alone, there have been over 50 incidents of election-related conflicts across various locations, with attacks on supporters of independent candidates appearing to be drawing attention.
Messenger/Disha
