In view of the 12th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) elections, Awami League has given final nominations to 298 people. However, more than 440 leaders and workers of the party have submitted independent nominations against 300 seats. Among them are more than 27 current members of Parliament. As such, Awami League will have to fight against Awami League in this election. The strong position of the candidates fighting in the field so far seems to indicate that.
In view of the upcoming elections, Awami League president Sheikh Hasina had announced to be flexible with the independents before the final nomination of the party was announced. And that's how those deprived of nomination interested in the election have regained their strength. So a record number of independent candidates filed nominations in this election.
Awami League will decide about the independent candidates before December 17, but nothing has been observed at the field level even though the leaders and activists have said so. Rather, on December 3, the party's general secretary Obaidul Quader clarified the party's attitude towards independent candidates and said, 'Did we say that if the party is independent, it will be expelled from the Awami League? We do not have this decision.'
BNP, one of the largest political parties in the country, is not in the field in this year's election. Therefore, Awami League has chosen independent candidates as a strategy to keep the electoral field live and to entice voters to vote. Although Jatiya Party, Trinamool BNP and BNM are in the field as rivals, the party cannot rely on them.
There is also global pressure to make elections competitive and participatory. Western countries including the United States, the United Nations, and the European Union have repeatedly urged the government to make the elections transparent, competitive and participatory. At the same time, the United States has also given the message to take tough decisions like bans and visa policies.
Political analysts said boat nominations and independent candidates could incite partisan infighting. A split may arise among the party's grassroots leaders and activists. Conflict may arise from electoral showdowns and rallies. Also since the same party boat and independent candidate, party cohesion may be lost.
Chairman of Election Monitoring Council (Janipop) Prof. Dr. Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah said that the police or other agencies see the Awami League candidates in one way and the candidates of other parties in a different way. Now if three candidates of Awami League stand there, then the administration will also be divided. All those in the administration are Awami League people. As a result, there is a possibility of massive fights. There will be a lot of conflict at the grassroots level and in that case the election may also be lopsided.
A similar impression is available from the field. Meanwhile, at the field level, candidates can be seen making accusations against each other at various places. Along with that there is also fear of violence. He fears past experiences. Many people lost their lives in clashes with independent candidates in various upazila, municipal and union parishad elections held in the recent past.
However, the candidates do not agree with this. They said that all party leaders and workers will work for the person whom the party has nominated. On behalf of the boat, they will be in the field until the election. There is no room for division here. Without a boat, independent candidates will not succeed in the election fight. Security will be forfeited.
Barta24.com tried to contact the candidates but they did not want to talk. Boat candidates are looking forward to what the party decides on independent candidates. They are still hoping that some action can be taken on party independent candidates before the 17th. So till then they want to monitor the situation. Then considering the situation they will prepare for the election.
Nazrul Islam Hiru, the current Member of Parliament, got Awami League nomination in Narsingdi-1 seat. He told Barta24.com that there will be no division in the party. When the Awami League has allotted a symbol to a candidate, then (in respect of independents) that action will be taken by the party high command. But that has to wait till 17th. Narsingdi District Awami League General Secretary Kazi Mohammad Ali, Joint General Secretary and Town Awami League President Md. Kamruzzaman Kamrul are here as independent candidates.
Awami League's nominated candidate for Rajshahi-3 constituency is Asaduzzaman Asad, former general secretary of district Awami League. Ayen Uddin, the current Member of Parliament of the constituency, stood as an independent without getting nomination. He was elected as a Member of Parliament on the nomination of Awami League in the 2014 elections. Asad said to Barta24.com that there is no chance of conflict. I think democratic country. He will vote, but if he votes, he (the current member of parliament) will not have a guarantee. He was disqualified for his misdeeds. I don't think about it.
It can be seen that 2713 nominations have been submitted for 300 seats in the 12th JS election. Among them, 1966 nomination papers of 28 political parties have been submitted. This time a maximum of 747 candidates will contest the elections as independent candidates. There is an average of 9 candidates per seat. However, after the scrutiny and withdrawal of nominations on December 17, the real picture of the candidature will be available.