Total candidates 1,538; ballot paper printing starts in full swing, Noakhali-1 polls on Jan 12
Staff Correspondent
Candidates of the grand alliance’s Awami League and Jatiya Party are set to fight each other in at least 11 constituencies, shows the final list of runners published by the Election Commission (EC) yesterday.
The seats are in addition to the three that the alliance has set aside for the AL and JP contestants to battle it out.
Similarly, BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, components of the four-party alliance, both have candidates in at least two constituencies.
Islami Oikya Jote, another member of the four-party alliance, will compete against BNP and Jamaat candidates for two seats.
The immediate past ruling coalition has by consensus left four seats for open contest.
The EC yesterday evening came up with the final list of 1,538 candidates vying for 299 seats. Originally, it was to unveil the list with electoral symbols on December 12.
Ballot papers for some constituencies however have already been sent to press.
Explaining this, the commission secretariat officials said they began printing a little earlier to complete the task on time.
They said the printing job will gain momentum now that the commission has finalised the list of candidates.
Humayun Kabir, secretary to the EC Secretariat, said, “We’ve already had around 90 lakh ballot papers printed for 24 constituencies.”
Meanwhile, the EC yesterday rescheduled the polls to Noakhali-1 constituency for January 12. The election there was suspended following the death of Gonotantri Party leader and grand alliance candidate Nurul Islam.
About candidates pitting themselves against those from their own folds in a good number of seats, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda said the commission can do nothing in this regard.
Talking to reporters at his office yesterday, he also said, “The returning officers have allocated symbols to those who did not withdraw nominations. And their decisions are final.”
Asked about the delay in publishing the candidates’ list, the CEC said it was because most of the political parties did not submit the consolidated list of their picks.
“Only Jatiya Party and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal [Inu] have given us lists.”
Against the backdrop of rising confusion over allocation of electoral symbols to candidates from the same alliances, the EC yesterday met to examine the ROs’ decisions with regard to symbols, said sources.
Finding that AL and JP still have candidates in several constituencies, the commission has sought clarification from AL over the issue, said the EC Secretariat officials.
AL VS JP
According to the EC list, JP and AL candidates are in competition with each other in Rangpur-4 and -5, Gaibandha-4 and -5, Kustia-4, Pirojpur-1, Munishiganj-3, Habiganj-2, Chittagong-9, Sirajganj-2 and Kurigram-4.
Though it was decided that the JP candidates would contest these seats on the alliance ticket, the AL men did not withdraw from the race.
Contacted by The Daily Star, AL presidium member Matia Chowdhury said, “Wait and see…we can still settle on a single candidate for each seat.”
Sylhet-3, Khulna-3 and Nilphamari-4 are the constituencies earmarked for open contest.
BNP VS JAMAAT
Candidates of BNP and Jamaat will battle for Meherpur-1 and Barguna-2, as Jamaat nominees there did not pull out.
Besides, Islami Oikya Jote is fighting against BNP candidate in Netrakona-3 and against Jamaat’s candidate in Cox’s Bazar-2.
As per the alliance decision, candidates of the parties are in free competition in Chapainawabganj-3, Sirajganj-4, Rajshahi-3 and Jhenidah-3.
POLLS TO NOAKHALI-1
According to the new schedule for the polls in Noakhali-1, December 21 is the last date for filing candidacy applications and December 27 for withdrawing nominations. The applications will be scrutinised on December 22.
CEC Huda said those whose nominations were declared valid earlier will not have to apply again.
Courtesy: thedailystar.net
