Mohammad Al Amin, Dhaka: Despite objections from many leaders and activists from the central to the grassroots level over not getting expected share of seats from the ruling Awami League, the Jatiya Party (JaPa) has ultimately decided to participate in the forthcoming 7 January general election.
JaPa insiders have told the Daily Sun that a considerable number of party members are deeply dissatisfied with the party high command, particularly with its chairman GM Quader and secretary general Mujibul Haque Chunnu, for entering the election arena against the wishes of the party rank and file.
“Participating in the election is not a wise decision, as our party didn’t receive the expected share of parliamentary seats from the Awami League. Simultaneously, the party high command ignored the opinions of the party’s grassroots regarding joining the polls,” expressed a presidium member of JaPa, speaking on condition of anonymity to the Daily Sun.
He added, “Many of our heavyweight leaders have been excluded from the shortlist, as the ruling party did not field candidates in only 26 constituencies, as per the understanding. However, the Awami League’s independent candidates pose a concern, as it will be challenging to win against them.”
According to sources, the Awami League has refrained from fielding candidates with the boat symbol in 26 constituencies to confirm an easy victory for JaPa candidates. Nevertheless, several heavyweight candidates have been left out of the shortlist.
JaPa sources indicate that a substantial number of party leaders and activists are discontented with the senior leaders’ decision to participate in the election.
This decision stands in contrast to some other opposition parties, including the BNP, which boycotted the election, and some JaPa candidates who withdrew their candidacy on the last day.
Jatiya Party Co-chairman Kazi Firoz Rashid fromDhaka-6 constituency, Co-chairman Salma Islam from Dhaka-17, Praesidium Member Mir Abdus Sabur from Dhaka-5, Praesidium Member Mohammad Shafiqul Islam from Dhaka-13, and Mohammad Shafiqul Islam from Dhaka-14 have withdrawn their candidacy, among others, on the last day of withdrawal.
“Jatiya Party grassroots opposed participating in the election. I have withdrawn my candidacy. I’m not participating in the election,” Kazi Firoz Rashid told the Daily Sun on Sunday evening.
Earlier on Sunday afternoon, GM Quader and Mujibul Haque Chunnu convened an urgent meeting with JaPa senior leaders at the party’s Banani office to make the final decision about participating in the election.
After the meeting, Mujibul Haque Chunnu, addressing a press conference, announced that the party is participating in the election and will contest in 283 parliamentary seats.
The JaPa leader claimed that they faced no pressure from any side to participate in the election. However, after the announcement, several JaPa leaders expressed dissent against the party’s decision.
MA Halim, a leader of the party from Jshore-5 constituency, said, “If the party had boycotted the polls, then it would have been better for us. If the Jatiya Party had retreated from the polls, then we would have been kings to the country’s people.”
Insiders suggest that under pressure from some senior leaders of the party and current lawmakers, GM Quader made the decision to join the election, despite receiving a share of seats less than expected, which has left many leaders and activists within the party unhappy.
“The senior leaders, including GM Quader and Mujibul Haque Chunnu, may face the wrath of party members after the election if anything unfavorable happens,” warned an anonymous central leader of the party speaking to the Daily Sun.
In a meeting of the JaPa central executive committee held on 14 November this year, party leaders expressed their reservations about participating in the election. Out of 59 leaders who spoke in the meeting and gave their opinions about joining the polls, all except one leader from Dhaka city were against entering the election, according to meeting sources.
In the meeting of the 299-member central executive committee, the presidents and secretaries of 62 district units of JaPa and its associate bodies also participated.
