Pulack Ghatack
Ties within the major political parties as well as in their electoral alliances remain loose resulting in the increase of defiant candidates, which has bewildered the Election Commission (EC) in allotting symbols for the December 29 general elections.
Indecision among the parties over seat sharing with their allies has also put the EC in trouble, which could not publish the final list of candidates and to initiate printing of ballot papers till filing of this report yesterday.
The parties and the alliances so far could not withdraw their rebel candidates from around sixty parliamentary constituencies, though the EC in a rare move extended the deadline for withdrawal for five hours till 10:00pm on Thursday.
According to the election schedule for the ninth parliamentary polls, the deadline for withdrawal of nominations was at 5.00pm on December 11 (Thursday).
The EC is still in a dilemma over allotting election symbols to the valid candidates and is waiting for decision of the parties concerned. The Commission, bypassing the election schedule, is giving a certain set of parties and alliance some extra time to withdraw, it is alleged.
According to the EC record, 1,538 valid candidates from 39 registered political parties as well as independents were given election symbols till yesterday afternoon.
But a senior EC official said though the commission had enlisted 1,538 candidates allocating them symbols, the figure would decrease after getting the final list in hand.
“There’s problem with around 60 parliamentary constituencies across the country,” he said, adding that the commission has been talking to the political parties to solve the problem as early as possible.
Of the valid candidates 1,397 belong to different political parties and alliances and 141 are Independents. Some 266 of them are Awami League and 14-party candidates with boat symbol and 263 are BNP nominees with the party symbol of sheaf of paddy.
The plough symbol was allotted to 46 Jatiya Party (Ershad) candidates. Though AL and JP announced an amicable solution to contest jointly in 46 constituencies, the boat symbol is overlapping in at least five constituencies.
The number will increase further as the Commission is yet to decide on as many as 60 candidates where the returning officers have already allotted party symbols to deserving candidates, as they have not received their party’s nomination withdrawal letters.
In the absence of a complete understanding between BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami on seat sharing both the parties have overlapping candidates in several constituencies.
The EC has allotted scales symbols to 39 candidates of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in as many constituencies.
The Independent candidates were also allotted symbols, he said.
The symbols for other parties are: winnowing fan (Bikalpadhara Bangladesh)-80, rising sun (Gono Forum)-45, gamchha (Krishak Sramik Dal)-46, scythe (Communist Party of Bangladesh)-37, pigeon (Ganotantri Party)-5, hut (Bangladesh National Awami Party)-12, hammer (Workers Party of Bangladesh)-2, umbrella (Liberal Democratic Party)-18, bicycle (Jatiya Party) -7, wheel (Samyabadi Dal) -1, torch (Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal)-2, star (JSD)-44, rose (Zaker Party) -37, ladder (Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal)-57, garland (Torikat Federation)-31, banyan tree (Khilafat Andolan)-31, lantern (Muslim League)-4, mango (NPP)-29, date tree (Jamiat e Ulamay e Islam)-5, fish (Gono Front)-14, tiger (PDP)-4, cow (Bangladesh NAP)-7, jackfruit (Bangladesh Jatiya Party) -10, key (Oikyoboddho Nagorik Andolan)-11, chair (Islami Oikya Front)-2, wristwatch (Kallyan Party)-39, minaret (Islami Oikyojote)-2, rickshaw (Bangladesh Khilafat Majlish)-8, hand-held fan (Islami Andolan)-167, candle (Bangladesh Islami Front)-18, hukkah (JGP)-1, spade (Biplabi Workers Party)-5 and axe (Freedom Party)-2.
The two symbols of BJP (cart) and Khilafat Majlish (wall clock) are not being used this time as the parties have joined the BNP-led electoral alliance.
The Election Commission declared valid as many as 1,572 candidates up to Friday afternoon, until final allotment of electoral symbols.
“But after the allotment of electoral symbols among the candidates, the number of total candidates may come down,” he said.
Courtesy: nation.ittefaq.com
