Rebels desperate

municipality polls

After the scrutiny of the nomination papers by the  Election Commission (EC) yesterday,  the number of rebel mayoral candidates  in the upcoming municipality polls from  both the ruling Awami League and BNP stands at 70.
The number of rebel candidates for the mayoral post in AL remain at 40 while the number is 30 for BNP, insiders from both the parties said.
However, Returning Officers (ROs) of Election Commission disqualified at least 33 rebel aspirants of the ruling Awami League after its two days scrutiny.
Earlier, the party had submitted the names of list of 236 mayoral candidates to Election Commission for the party symbol ‘Nouka’.  The party central leaders claimed that the number of rebel candidates will be minimized to zero by December 13.     
Meanwhile, rebel candidates of the ruling Awami League (AL) have threatened party higher-ups that they, along with a large number of AL leaders and workers, will leave the party if not allowed to contest upcoming municipality elections on December 30. Taking a firm stand, AL rebels observed that party higher-ups will not need to oust them from the party as they will voluntarily leave the party if unable to contest the polls.
The rebel candidates came up with these observations yesterday while speaking to The Independent in the wake of the party stance that those who contest elections defying party higher-ups will be ousted from the party as per its constitution. However, AL rebels expressed confidence about winning in the polls, at the same time voicing their concerns whether elections will be held in a free, fair and credible manner. Begging pardon of party higher-ups for contesting polls independently, AL rebels called upon party president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to allow them to contest polls.
Meanwhile, party higher-ups have already directed AL’s organising secretaries to visit their respective municipalities and communicate with rebel candidates in a bid to convince them to withdraw their nomination papers before the deadline stipulated by the Election Commission. AL rebel candidate from Vedorganj municipality and also the Vedorganj upazila AL Economic Affairs Secretary, Abul Basar Chowkdar, told The Independent that he will contest upcoming polls under any circumstance.

“It is impossible to abstain from contesting polls. No problem, if I am ousted! I will contest the Pourasabha elections at any cost,” he said. Intra-party feud in the upazila has taken a serious turn with party higher-ups’ decision to select single candidates for the party symbol “Nouka”, he said. Central leaders have selected the wrong candidate for the municipality, he added.
  Replying to a question, the AL local leader said, “I have already been called by central leaders for withdrawing my nomination papers by December 13, otherwise party higher-ups will oust me from the party. But I have told them I will contest the polls under any circumstance. They [AL higher-ups] will not need to oust me. I myself, along with my supporters, will leave the party if I am not allowed to contest the polls.”
Similarly, AL rebel candidate from Damuda municipality under Shariyatpur district, Rejaul Karim Raza, told The Independent on Saturday that he will contest polls even if he is ousted from the party. Rejaul said party higher-ups did not take the opinion of grassroots’ leaders during selection of candidates for the upcoming polls.
AL rebel candidate from Chalna municipality under Khulna district, Auchinta Kumar Mondal, told this correspondent that he will contest the polls at any cost as the party has selected the wrong candidate who was formerly a leader of the Jatiya Party and BNP.
“I have already written a letter to the PM to allow me as an independent candidate for the polls and I am very much optimistic about my victory,” he said.
AL rebel candidate and Juba League leader of Karimganj Pourasabha under Kishorganj district, Abdul Quaium, said, “I have no alternative but to contest the polls as AL supporters here want me to contest the elections. Organising Secretary Ahmed Hossain and Presidium member Obaidul Quader have called me to withdraw my nomination papers but I told them to conduct a survey to test my popularity.”
AL rebel candidate from Kalkini Pourasabha in Madaripur district, Abul Kalam Azad, made a similar statement that he will contest polls despite all barriers.
Meanwhile, according to our local correspondents, AL rebel candidates also staged a demonstration in some municipalities across the country, protesting the party higher-ups’ decision about selection of party-backed candidates for elections. According to media reports, at least one more AL mayoral candidate in over a hundred municipalities has submitted nomination papers to contest the elections independently.
When contacted, AL Organising Secretary Misbah Uddin Siraj, who is now working to convince rebel candidates to withdraw their nomination papers before the EC deadline, said, “We are working to convince party leaders who are still adamant to contest polls independently and I hope, we will be able to convince them eventually.”

 

Rebels desperate

municipality polls

After the scrutiny of the nomination papers by the Election Commission (EC) yesterday, the number of rebel mayoral candidates in the upcoming municipality polls from both the ruling Awami League and BNP stands at 70. The number of rebel candidates for the mayoral post in AL remain at 40 while the number is 30 for BNP, insiders from both the parties said. However, Returning Officers (ROs) of Election Commission disqualified at least 33 rebel aspirants of the ruling Awami League after its two days scrutiny. Earlier, the party had submitted the names of list of 236 mayoral candidates to Election Commission for the party symbol Nouka. The party central leaders claimed that the number of rebel candidates will be minimized to zero by December 13. Meanwhile, rebel candidates of the ruling Awami League (AL) have threatened party higher-ups that they, along with a large number of AL leaders and workers, will leave the party if not allowed to contest upcoming municipality elections on December 30. Taking a firm stand, AL rebels observed that party higher-ups will not need to oust them from the party as they will voluntarily leave the party if unable to contest the polls. The rebel candidates came up with these observations yesterday while speaking to The Independent in the wake of the party stance that those who contest elections defying party higher-ups will be ousted from the party as per its constitution. However, AL rebels expressed confidence about winning in the polls, at the same time voicing their concerns whether elections will be held in a free, fair and credible manner. Begging pardon of party higher-ups for contesting polls independently, AL rebels called upon party president and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to allow them to contest polls. Meanwhile, party higher-ups have already directed ALs organising secretaries to visit their respective municipalities and communicate with rebel candidates in a bid to convince them to withdraw their nomination papers before the deadline stipulated by the Election Commission. AL rebel candidate from Vedorganj municipality and also the Vedorganj upazila AL Economic Affairs Secretary, Abul Basar Chowkdar, told The Independent that he will contest upcoming polls under any circumstance. It is impossible to abstain from contesting polls. No problem, if I am ousted! I will contest the Pourasabha elections at any cost, he said. Intra-party feud in the upazila has taken a serious turn with party higher-ups decision to select single candidates for the party symbol Nouka, he said. Central leaders have selected the wrong candidate for the municipality, he added. Replying to a question, the AL local leader said, I have already been called by central leaders for withdrawing my nomination papers by December 13, otherwise party higher-ups will oust me from the party. But I have told them I will contest the polls under any circumstance. They [AL higher-ups] will not need to oust me. I myself, along with my supporters, will leave the party if I am not allowed to contest the polls. Similarly, AL rebel candidate from Damuda municipality under Shariyatpur district, Rejaul Karim Raza, told The Independent on Saturday that he will contest polls even if he is ousted from the party. Rejaul said party higher-ups did not take the opinion of grassroots leaders during selection of candidates for the upcoming polls. AL rebel candidate from Chalna municipality under Khulna district, Auchinta Kumar Mondal, told this correspondent that he will contest the polls at any cost as the party has selected the wrong candidate who was formerly a leader of the Jatiya Party and BNP. I have already written a letter to the PM to allow me as an independent candidate for the polls and I am very much optimistic about my victory, he said. AL rebel candidate and Juba League leader of Karimganj Pourasabha under Kishorganj district, Abdul Quaium, said, I have no alternative but to contest the polls as AL supporters here want me to contest the elections. Organising Secretary Ahmed Hossain and Presidium member Obaidul Quader have called me to withdraw my nomination papers but I told them to conduct a survey to test my popularity. AL rebel candidate from Kalkini Pourasabha in Madaripur district, Abul Kalam Azad, made a similar statement that he will contest polls despite all barriers. Meanwhile, according to our local correspondents, AL rebel candidates also staged a demonstration in some municipalities across the country, protesting the party higher-ups decision about selection of party-backed candidates for elections. According to media reports, at least one more AL mayoral candidate in over a hundred municipalities has submitted nomination papers to contest the elections independently. When contacted, AL Organising Secretary Misbah Uddin Siraj, who is now working to convince rebel candidates to withdraw their nomination papers before the EC deadline, said, We are working to convince party leaders who are still adamant to contest polls independently and I hope, we will be able to convince them eventually.