JS by-election at Rangpur-3
Ershad in dilemma over candidate nomination
Rangpur Correspondent
A competition between Jatiya Party president of the district unit and former MP Karim Uddin Varosha and secretary of the unit and former MP Moshiur Rahman Ranga is underway to please the party chief H.M Ershad to get party ticket in the JS by-election at Rangpur-3 constituency.
Moshiur Rahman Ranga received JP Chairman Ershad at Rangpur at his residence Polli Nibash on Sunday afternoon by presenting a big plough- party’s election symbol made of flowers. On the other hand, Karim Uddin Varosha on Monday evening received Ershad at the party office in Rangpur with the party symbol made of gold. Both Ranga and Karim have been vigorously lobbying to get the party nomination.
When asked, Ranga said, “I have sought nomination from Ershad. I hope that he will not disappoint me.” Asked if he had presented Ershad the big plough of flowers to please him, Ranga said, as JP Chairman won at Rangpur-3 constituency with the highest margin of votes, he greeted him (Ershad) with it.
His rival, Karim Varosha, a few days back held a press conference at his Haragachh residence in Rangpur and expressed his desire to represent the party in the JS by-election from Rangpur-3 constituency. On the other hand, Karim said, “Plough is the symbol of victory for JP. I presented Ershad the plough made of gold.”
Karim Uddin Varosha lost to AL candidate Tipu Munshi in the recently concluded JS Poll. To the contrary, Ershad nominated Ranga to contest from Lalmonirhat-1 constituency but withdrew him later in favour of grand alliance nominated AL candidate Motahar Hosen in this constituency.
A number leaders of JP of the district unit on condition of anonymity disclosed that as both Karim and Ranga were seeking nomination, Ershad was thinking otherwise. They said that most of the party leaders and activists would protest if Ershad nominate Ranga at Rangpur-3 constituency in the forthcoming by-election as Ranga has no image here and a number of cases have been filed against him.
Some of the leaders and activists of JP requesting to be unnamed said that the party would lose the seat if Ranga was nominated to contest in the by-election. They also were reluctant about Karimuddin Varosha as he was not educated.
Party sources said that a number of JP leaders and businessmen, apart from Ranga and Varosha, are also in quest of nomination in the constituency. They are JP leader and Mayor of Rangpur Municipality Chairman Abdur Rouf Manik, JP leader Fakharuz Zaman Jahangir, and President of the Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mostafa Azad Choudhury Babu.
Courtesy: thebangladeshtoday.com
