Participatory municipal polls are encouraging
The nation concluded the year 2015 holding mayoral elections in 234 municipalities across the country. According to the Election Commissions unofficial results, Awami Leagues mayoral candidates were elected in 168 municipalities, while BNPs in 19, Jatiya Partys in one and independent contenders in 26. The turnout of voters was 73.92 per cent, the EC said. Of the remaining 20 municipalities, voting in Madhabdi of Narsingdi was cancelled halfway through. Polling in 50 election centres in the rest 19 municipalities was also postponed. Of the 168 municipalities, in seven AL won unopposed. However, for many the election outcome was normal while many others raised their eyebrows. As was expected the BNP rejected the outcome of election with the allegation of massive rigging by the party in power. It said that votes were already cast before the election started in the morning and in many places their agents were beaten out of the centres.
Indeed there were some visible electoral flaws, but it is also true that among the voters enthusiasm for the election could not also be missed. On the one hand, there were long queues of voters seen standing in the polling centres, there was also news, on the other hand, that many voters could not give their votes as they were already cast. Newspapers also printed pictures of party workers casting wholesale ballot papers with ballot books in their hands.
The enthusiasm seen before and during the election among the voters is certainly due to the fact that the election was held, for the first time, on party lines with their respective election symbols. For a long time, the nation could not witness a battle between boat and sheaf of paddies. Indeed, that the election was participatory and inclusive is itself a very positive sign in the countrys electoral process.
The thumping victory for the ruling Awami League and debacle of BNP in the election triggered many speculations among the election observers. Many pointed out that BNP lost massively because its chairperson Khaleda Zia recently had made a caustic remark that belittled the martyrs of the glorious Liberation War. Many believe since BNP is organisationally now not strong enough, it had to witness this humiliating defeat. For the BNP, which will submit written complaints before the EC soon, the explanation is different.
It is expected that the EC will pay careful attention to the complaints raised. It will also soon organise re-polling in the postponed municipality and election centres and declare the name of victorious candidates as soon as possible. It is also expected that those who have been elected or will be elected to the mayoral office will perform their duties sincerely following their election promises and needs of people in their respective localities.
