Contradictory statements from senior leaders of Jatiya Party (JP) have created confusion among grass roots-level leaders and activists about the party’s stance on participating in the January 5 parliamentary polls. A day after JP presidium member GM Quader reaffirmed his party’s decision not to join the election, his party colleague and state minister for sports and youth, Mujibul Huq Chunnu, on Saturday, said, “We’ve decided to join the polls under the leadership of Rawshan Ershad for the continuation of the Constitution.”
Chunnu said this after a meeting with Rawshan Ershad, wife of JP chief HM Ershad, at her Gulshan-2 residence.
On Friday, Quader had categorically claimed that the party chief’s position of not joining the polls remained unchanged. “There’s no scope for any confusion over our party’s stance regarding participation in the 10th parliamentary polls,” Quader, Ershad’s brother and former commerce minister, told a press conference at his Uttara residence.
“Our party chairman is HM Ershad. As he can’t directly talk now, he authorised party secretary-general ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader and me to make his directives public. If anyone (except the two) tells anything on behalf of Ershad, he or she should not be reckoned with,” he added.
Chunnu, however, evaded commenting on his contradictory statement to that of the party-nominated spokesperson. “I have no comments in this regard. But we’re participating in the 10th parliamentary elections led by Rawshan Ershad,” he said.
On December 19, JP presidium member Kazi Firoz Rashid had told The Independent that JP would take part in the upcoming general election. “We will participate in the general election as per the directions of Rawshan Ershad. We will contest 160 constituencies,” he said.
“The Awami League candidate has sacrificed his seat for me and I’m now fully engaged in election campaigning,” he added.
Also on Saturday, party secretary general ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader failed to appear before journalists after inviting them to his residence to convey some messages on behalf of the JP chief. No explanation was forthcoming on this “disappearing” act.
-With The Independent input
