The country's two major political parties the Awaml League (AL) and the Bangladesh Natonalist Party (BNP) are set to face each other In the parliament elections of February 27. These two parties are at the centre stage of elections and all other small parties, having Ideological tilts, arc aligning with cither BNP or AL. With only 43 days left for the run up, major parties are locked in a strategic battle to put up potentially winning candidates in majority of the 300 scats of the parliament with a view to securing absolute majority to form government. But the Awami League's objective is much more than that; it is striving for two third's majority to amend the Constitution to revert to parliamentary form of government. Presidential system of government was introduced in the country In 1975 through fourth amendment of the constitution which is still In force. With the fall of the autocratic regime of H. M. Ershad. the country is passing through a critical Juncture. The nation has , therefore, started the count down to elections with a view to establishing a stable representative government. The interim government has taken up series of steps which Include reorganisation of Election Commission and framing of laws restricting the polls expenses to Taka three lakhs for every candidate. Moreover, the candidates will have to disclose to source of the fund- ing so that black money can not influence the polls. The services of the government officers connected with the election process have been placed at the disposal of the election commission which can fire any one of them for violation of the election rules. These steps have raised expectations for a free and fair elections on February 27. But skepticism is growing due to presence of illegal arms and black money which Influenced polls during Ershad's regime. The government has promulgated law to punish the holders of Illegal arms and special drives have been initiated to recover them. Both the steps seem to have failed. Even at the intlal stage of hustings In different parts of the country, free display of arms are being reported. Two persons were killed in Chittagong recently. The government needs to take stringent measures to recover arms and prevent the use of black money to influence the polls. The government seems to be slow in making preparations for holding the polls suc- cessfully. Political parties must complete the preparations to help administration to hold the elections smoothly. But the parties arc yet to finalise the elections agenda for the run up. The agenda includes putting up candidates, preparation of mcnlfcsto and programmes for hustings. Although the political parties have chosen the candidates, beckstage parleys are no to make adjustment of scats with the like minded parties. Most of the small parties arc having dialogues with Awaml League and BNP for shares of parliament scats. Party sources hinted that BNP and Awami League, contenders of power, will accomodate the small par-lies to avoid duplicity of candidates In each constituency from their ollies. Awaml League Is yet to finalise adjustment of seats with the partners of'Eight-party Alliance. The party is now having talks with Five-party Alliance. BNP is having talks with Ja-maat-c-lslami and other small parties with anti-Awaml League bias. BNFs strategy is to avoid tringular fight in as many seats as possible. But fielding of Jatiya Party candidates in 300 scats has caused concern in BNP circle. The tringular fight will divide the antl-Awami League votes reducing BNP chance to win majority. But the growing resistance by students against Jatiya Party has slowed down the party's move to stage a comeback to the election scene. The filing of cases against Ershad and the mounting pressure on the interim government to send him to Jail have discouraged many Jatiya Party nominees to seek elections. Awaml League and BNP will make the constitutional Issues the focal points in their main election agenda. Awaml League will seek people's mandate to amend the constitution to go back to parliamentary form of government and to restore secularism and socialism as state principles. Awaml League Incorporated four state principles in the 1872 Constitution which included nationalism, democracy, secularism and socialism. Late . President Ziaur Rahman amended the constitution restoring multi-party democracy In place of one party rule, replaced secularism with faith tn almighty Allah and altered socialism In to social justice. BNP Is unlikely to change the stance against secularism and would like to retain the presidential system of government. Awaml League chief Sheikh Haslna has already asked the people to choose between people's government and the "Zia-Ershad style" (Presidential) government. Awaml League's basic stand on the constitution is to go back to 1972. The stand Implies that religious parties like Jamaat will be banned and the constitutional amendment barring trial of the killers of late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman would go. Besides, the eighth amendment making Islam as the state religion will also be abolished. The basic difference on principle issues between Awnmi League and BNP has faded the possibility of a broad united front for fighting the elections. The move was Initiated by Five-party Alliance and Communist Party of Bangladesh. Both BNP and Awami League dismissed the proposal of a Joint front The menlfeato of both Awami League and BNP will focus on key economic Issues like privatisation, liberal industrial policy to invite foreign investments and poverty alleviation. In the backdrop of changes tn the East European socialist countries. Awami League, which professes socialism as state policy, is likely to catch up BNP In privatisation programmes. Awami League nationalised country's major industries after liberation. BNP government started denationalisation of Industries. Both BNP and Awami League are expected to remain silent over the presence of Bangladesh troops In Saudi Arabia. The basic tilt towards the West will dominate the foreign policy of both the major parties. The election scene will be clear after January 21, the last date for the withdrawal of candidates. Until that time the lobbying for adjustments among the like minded parties will continue to avoid duplicity of candidates. Meanwhile, the administration Is expected to gear up steps to streamline the arrangements for holding free and fair elections: the law enforcing agencies need to be despatched will ahead of the election day to different parts of the country to prevent any untoward Incidents during the hustings. Electioneering will start within a couple of day. The writer Is the Deputy Editor of The Daily Star,