Awami League (AL) is in the scuffle by negotiating seats between its political ally Jatiya Party (JaPa) and the 14-party alliance as the opposition parties, as Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, are not in the voting in the 12th parliamentary elections. AL has compromised seats at the last moment due to its political alliance with the JaPa and ideological relations with the 14-party alliance partners. As part of the deal, the ruling party left 32 seats to the four parties, but the ruling party's allies are not comfortable even though the AL has withdrawn the candidates of the boat symbol from the field by negotiating the seats. They face two types of challenges on the field. Analysts believed that most of the seats left by the AL are in uncertainty.
This time, the AL left 26 seats for the JaPa, two for the Workers Party of Bangladesh, three for the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) and one for Jatiya Party (JP). Although 32 candidates of these four allies mostly face two problems. Firstly the rebel candidates of AL, who are former MPs and influential leaders of the local of the party, will not leave the Jatiya Party candidates unchallenged. Secondly, there are former popular leaders and MPs of the JaPa in different seats. They are also very strong on the ballot. As a result, AL is leaving seats for JaPa, Workers Party, JSD, but the candidates in the field are not giving them concessions. They will have to win by facing the strong candidates of AL and JaPa in the election field.
Some candidates will face tough challenges on the field. For example, the AL left the Pirojpur-2 seat for the 14-party alliance JP. JP Chairman Anwar Hossain Manju will contest from this constituency with AL symbol 'boat'. But winning isn't going to be easy for him. BNP’s Paddy Sheaf is a strong competitor to the boat in the field, this time the paddy sheaf is not in the election. But even then, one of the top leaders of the 14-party is not comfortable with the boat symbol. Because, AL's influential Mohiuddin Maharaj is contesting here. Independent candidate Mohiuddin Maharaj is very popular among the locals. He is the joint general secretary of the district AL and former chairman of the district council. During his tenure as the chairman of Zila Parishad, he made extensive development in the area. Being in the area all the time, he is very trusted by the common people. Moreover, in the last held district council election, he did not know beyond the party's decision without getting the party nomination. He did not become a rebel candidate by showing loyalty to the party. As a result, the central organization and the permanent AL are in favor of him. As a result, it will not be easy for Anwar Hossain Manju to win this seat. Permanent sources said there would be a fierce fight between the two.
Pirojpur-3 constituency is the seat of Rustam Ali Farazi. He has been elected from this seat several times. Even after being deprived of the party nomination, he was not deprived of the support of the people. He has a history of being elected as an independent candidate. This time he is an independent candidate. JaPa candidate Mashrequl Azam will have to defeat this widely popular public representative in the area. Former upazila chairman Ashrafur Rahman was the AL candidate for this seat. He withdrew his nomination in light of the central decision. But JaPa candidate Mashrequl Azam is the incumbent of the constituency and Rustam Ali Farazi does not think it will be easy to snatch the seat. Many believe that the chances of snatching the plough candidate seat from Farazi are slim.
Similarly, Khosru Chowdhury, industries and commerce affairs secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan North AL, is not leaving Sherifa Quader, wife of JaPa Chairman GM Quader, in Dhaka-18 constituency. He is an independent candidate. Khasru is a very strong candidate in this constituency. He has a close relationship with this area for a long time. It is not yet certain how well Sheriffa will be able to do without any involvement with the locals.
In the same way, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, the alliance candidate for Barishal-2 constituency, is in the election field with the boat symbol, but independent candidate former AL MP Monirul Islam Moni (Dheki symbol) is not allowing him to score goals in the empty field. In Kushtia-2, JSD President Hasanul Haq Inu is contesting with the boat symbol, while Mirpur Upazila Parishad Chairman and Upazila AL General Secretary Kamrul Arefin is in the field. He's fighting in the field with a truck. JaPa candidate Md Ashrafuzzaman for Satkhira-2 constituency. Incumbent MP Mir Mostaq Ahmed Bobby is the AL's independent candidate for the seat. Besides, Upazila AL Joint General Secretary Enchan Bahar Bulbul is in the field as an independent candidate. JaPa candidate Rana Mohammad Sohel for Nilphamari-3 constituency. Former JaPa MP Kazi Faruk Quader is running as an independent candidate. In Manikganj-1, Awami League left the seat for Jatiya Party candidate Jahirul Alam Rubel. District Awami League member and former Jubo League organising secretary Salauddin Mahmud is running as an independent candidate.
ARS
