14 parties including the street’s main opposition BNP are not participating in this year's parliamentary elections. In such a context, the ruling Awami League along with the Election Commission is making every effort to make the elections free, fair and participatory. Awami League is giving concessions to the party's independent candidates especially to make the election look competitive. Someone's month of fasting, someone's destruction!
Political analysts have commented that Sheikh Hasina's wise decision to give exemption to party independent candidates. They say that it creates a dichotomy between grassroots leaders and workers, but in the end, Awami League will benefit. Because if independent candidates are in the field, as competitive elections can be shown to foreigners, the voter turnout will increase at the same time.
Former Vice-Chancellor of Jagannath University (JNU) about not discouraging Awami League party independent candidates. Professor Mizanur Rahman told Barta24.com that the reality is that if a major party does not participate in the election, there will be a flaw in the participative election that takes place through the participation of all parties. So now the people's participation is left. Therefore, to increase the voter turnout, if there are more candidates or independents, they will encourage all the relatives from the area, neighborhood to vote. It will increase voter turnout, which is needed at the moment. This is the strategy.
In the end, many doubted whether the Awami League would be able to remain flexible about the party's independent candidates because the fear of losing has entered the minds of many current ministers and parliamentarians of Awami League. That is why they have requested the party president Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to prevent 'party independent candidates' from contesting. But the Prime Minister clarified that she has nothing to say about it.
Meanwhile, the 14-party coalition led by Awami League and the opposition party in parliament, the Jatiya Party, are seeking a guarantee of victory in the elections. They are also not satisfied with the promise of concession of seats by Awami League. The parties demand that no independent candidate of Awami League should be in the field. The leaders of alliance and allied parties feel that if the ruling party has an independent candidate, it will not be able to win the election.
According to Awami League sources, the party does not want to take the responsibility of independent candidates even though the seats have been shared with the partner parties of the 14-party alliance. Party leaders' statement - Independent candidates have been allowed to contest the elections. In this situation, if they are removed while solving the problems of the alliance, the election will take a one-sided form.
In this regard, the chairman of the National Election Monitoring Council (JANIPOP) Professor Dr. Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah told Barta24.com that the poison that is working behind giving concessions to independent candidates is increasing the number of voters first. Because the more candidates the better. If there are fewer candidates, the poison that works psychologically makes the supporters of the ruling party think that there is no need to go to the polling station with difficulty, they will win already. That's why they stay at home. There will be a big change here if there is a party independent candidate.
He also said, another issue is competitive elections. Participatory elections can be held if there are independent candidates if other parties withdraw from the election due to any reason.
Recently, Awami League President Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in a meeting with the partner parties that everyone must contest the elections. This time there is no chance of winning unopposed.
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader also said that alliance partners and party candidates should compete against independent candidates. There will be independent candidates in the elections even if the partners have objections. Party candidates' discomfort with independent candidates is unfounded. There is no option to contest elections.
Common voters also think that this election will not be exactly like the previous two. The candidate of Awami League must fight against the candidate of their party. It can increase voter turnout along with competitive elections.