JP not to take part in JS polls if all parties boycott, he says
Jatiya Party (JP) chairman Hussain Muhammad Ershad on Monday termed Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam’s remarks as “false, motivated, baseless and unfortunate”.
The former president’s announcement came hours after the claim by the ruling Awami League’s general secretary that the JP would take part in the upcoming polls under the banner of the AL-led Grand Alliance government.
“We will not contest the next parliamentary polls if all political parties, including the BNP, do not participate in them. The JP would not go to the next general elections to help any party ‘assume’ power,” the JP chief said while addressing a press conference held at the party’s Banani office in the capital.
Earlier, on Sunday night, Ashraf told reporters that the JP will take part in the next general elections under the Awami League-led Grand Alliance following a meeting between HM Ershad and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
“It would be unacceptable, both locally and internationally, if elections were held excluding any political party, and the JP would not support any such elections,” Earshad also asserted. The JP is a key ally in the ruling AL-led Grand Alliance government.
He claimed that no discussion was held on the issue of leaving or staying with the Grand Alliance, but Ashraf’s statement to the media stunned him.
“The statement of the AL general secretary is fully untrue, baseless and unfortunate. Ashraf lied to the media and humiliated the JP before the nation. He should withdraw his remarks,” Ershad said.
Whether the JP would stay with the Grand Alliance or not would be decided by the party’s forum, he said, adding, “It is our internal matter — whether we will leave or stay with the Grand Alliance. We are mulling whether to contest the next elections independently. I have already selected our candidates.”
He further said, “I said it before and I’m saying it again. The JP will not take part in any stage-managed election. I have no wish to die as a broker.”
About his discussion with the Prime Minister, the former President said they wanted to know who will lead the all-party poll-time government, and in reply Sheikh Hasina said she will be the head of that government.
“I also wanted to know from the PM the reason for banning political gatherings. She (Hasina) informed me that the political gatherings were banned following apprehensions of political violence. She, however, said there would be no bar on holding indoor political meetings,” the JP chairman said.
Ershad also told the Premier that the BNP would not accept her as the head of the all-party election time government. “She (Hasina) replied that the BNP would take part in the elections,” the JP chief further said.
Ershad also said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina informed him that a decision about the composition of the Cabinet would be taken through discussions.
Criticising the present Election Commission (EC), the former president said, “There are many controversies over the present EC. It is not possible to hold a free, fair, credible, neutral and acceptable election under the present EC.”
Jatiya Party presidium members Kazi Zafar Ahmed, ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, GM Kader, Anisul Islam Mahmud, Kazi Firoze Rashid, Prof. Delwar Hossain Khan, Mostafa Zaman Haider, Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, Mujibul Haque Chunnu, SM Abdul Mannan and Rintu Anwar attended the press conference.
-With The Independent input
