Bangladesh News

The Awami League might face strong opposition from grassroots level in different constituencies over seat sharing with other parties, especially with Jatiya Party (JP) in greater Rangpur.

As JP Chairman HM Ershad announced nominating candidates in different electoral constituencies in greater Rangpur on behalf of the AL-led grand electoral alliance, local AL leaders opposed his unilateral nomination declaration.

Ershad said they would nominate candidates in 21 of the 22 constituencies in the area, triggering mixed reaction among the local AL leaders and nomination aspirants. The JP chief said only one constituency would be left for AL Publicity Affairs Secretary Asaduzzaman Noor in Nilphamari.

The AL has recently conducted a survey in the five districts – Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari — to see the party’s strength and possibilities of winning the elections.

The survey suggests AL should not compromise or share at least 10 of the 22 seats as the party nominees would have much possibility to win with their own strength in the upcoming parliamentary election scheduled for December 18.

The AL won three of these seats in the last parliamentary election including two in Nilphamari and one in Lalmonirhat, while JP won 13 constituencies in last election and 21 in the 1996 polls.

“He [Ershad] can’t announce candidates on behalf of the grand alliance since it has not been formed yet,” said Mohammad Jafar Ali, general secretary of Kurigram district AL.

“We would not have any objection if he [Ershad] declares his party nomination. But as he is declaring nomination for the grand alliance, we have serious objection to it,” he told The Daily Star.

Some of the local-level leaders also said they would take a decision soon to force the AL central committee as well as party chief Sheikh Hasina to consider party nomination first and then share seats with JP.

“We have a very good position this time as our votes have increased significantly in every district; so we cannot allow the party to share as high as 21 seats with Ershad,” said a district president speaking anonymously.

Talking to The Daily Star, AL Organising Secretary Mahmudur Rahman Manna, who is in charge of looking party activities of the region, said, “The ground reality is totally different this year. The Awami League’s position is better than any other times comparing to other parties.”

Asked about Ershad’s nomination announcement, AL Acting General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said Ershad announced his party nomination.

But nomination would be finalised after formation of the grand electoral alliance, which would include JP, he added.