Upazila polls candidacy
AL facing rival contestants in 116 upazilas
65 teams on field to settle intra-party feuds
Sahidul Islam Rana
With only two days left of the forthcoming Upazila Parishad election race, the Awami League failed to settle the factional rivalry inside the party.
Apprehending a debacle in the polls slated for January 22, the top brass of the party are anxious about the rebellious contestants – who are still in the polls race in at least 116 upazilas out of some 481 – defying party commands, said party insiders.
Directives of the Prime Minister and AL President Sheikh Hasina to grassroots leaders of the party to choose a single candidate for the post of chairman in the Upazila Parishad poll are not being properly carried out till date, according to reports reaching here from different corners through out the country.
Besides, despite efforts by senior field level leaders to resolve intra-party feuds centering nomination, sporadic clashes were reported in many areas between the supporters of rival contestants and those of the AL-backed candidates.
Talking to The Bangladesh Today, a member of the AL Election Conducting Committee Mrinal Datya said, “There is no direct party ticket system in this poll as per electroral rules. Indirectly in some 265 upazilas, there are AL’s single candidate. A total of 65 teams – comprising of Central Assistant-Secretaries and, President and Secretaries of respective district committees are in the field across the country to gear up the election campaign.”
“The Central Committee formed teams recently to resolve the problems among the candidates and asked to finalise the party nominations by January 17. We are yet to finalise the names by today,” he hoped.
Sources said, in many upazilas where rival contenders from the AL stepped out of the polls race following intervention from party high-ups, are not working for party candidates.
Asked about the issue AL Office Secretary Abdul Mannan Khan MP said, “The AL is a big party. These might be intra-party feuds but it would not badly affect AL. Many of the rival candidates did not agree to relinquish the ongoing electoral race hoping to get favour as the AL is in power.”
“After more than 18 years, UZ polls are being held across the country amid some amendments. Besides, at present, the post of Upazila Chairman is very lucrative and carries enough powers to carry out various development activities using funds allocated by the government without interferences of the lawmakers,” he observed.
Another central leader, preferring anonymity, said, “With regards to the post of UZ Chairman and Vice Chairman, there is more than one candidate for each of the posts. AL would lose many seats in the country due to such brawl inside the party ahead of the poll. BNP candidates would benefit.”
Although the candidatures for the polls are not directly politically nominated, there is indirect support to the candidates. Considering all these, the AL high command on January issued letters to all district committees to settle the issues by taking the opinion of the grassroots level leaders through mutual understanding or secret balloting but all these measures have not helped much in settling intra-party feuds.
Courtesy: thebangladeshtoday.com
