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A Big Role for Smaller Parties
The media coverage of the election so far has tended to concentrate mainly on the activities of the big parties. Important actors in the antl-Ershad movement, the smaller parties, have not received the media focus, and consequently the public attention, that we think they deserve. We consider them to represent important public interest groups. A greater dissemination of their positions on Important national questions would help to create a better informed public opinion at this crucial point in our national life
The smaller parties played a significant role in forging the national alliance that was so crucial in mobilizing the public behind the movement for democracy. Their subsequent call for a national government, though did not make any headway, reflected the sentiments of a sizeable section of the public. It was the smaller parties again that have kept the pressure on the two big parties not to deviate too much from the pledges they made to the people during the movement against autocracy.
The popular perception that the two leading parties are not likely to have too much edge over one another In the coming elections makes the future role of the smaller parties a matter of even greater public interest. It is our view that besides being of influence in the formation of any future government, the smaller parties are likely to play a critical role in the future parliament. The fact that the two leading parties have become polarised in their electoral stance and represent two very distinct options of a parliamentary or presidential form of government, gives added weightage of the votes of the smaller parties. It is to be noted that most of the smaller parties do not have a clear position on the form of government. But the more prominent ones among them have mostly opined in favour of a parliamentary form. However regardless of the form of government and Irrespective of which of the two leading parties win majority, there should not be any doubt in anybody's mind as to the critical role which will be played by these parties.
It is to be mentioned here that so far the leading smaller parties have played a constructive role In national politics. First they played laudable role in bringing about and subsequently holding together the alliance against the Ershad fpvemment. Their role was also an important actor in creating the mass upsurge that swept away the nine-year-old autocratic rule. Subsequently it was again the smaller parties, working together with the Election Commission, helped to formulate the code of conduct for the election. So far they have more or less acted as a sobering influence in the over all political process. They have, through their manifestoes and election campaign, brought the urgent economic and social issues to public attention. It is our view that they will play the role of pressure groups or of lobbyists for various social and economic causes. Such a role for the smaller parties is not uncommon. In many of the leading democracies of the world it is the smaller parties, unencumbered by responsibility of running a government, or that of forming the major opposition, who take up issues of critical concern to the public such as education, health, environment, welfare of the disadvantaged groups, and by constantly keeping these issues in public focus help in the overall process of national development.
It is our hope that our smaller parties will play a similar role.