Probable candidates have started lobbying for the next mayor election of Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC).

They have been rushing from door to door of the local party leaders and activists to win their support. Some of them have also begun mass contacts.

The last RCC election was held on January 31, 1994. The next election was due in 1999. But the election could not be held for injunction of the High Court over delimitation disputes.

Recently, the government took a decision and took measures for early disposal of the cases and hold the election as early as possible.

There is a rumour that election of the city corporation will be held by April-May this year. The rumour has activated the probable candidates.

When contacted with the probable candidates, they said to this correspondent almost in a similar manner. Most of them said that though it is a local government body the election will be political. So nomination or support of the political parties is a very important factor, they said. That is why they are trying hard to win nomination or support from their respective parties.

BNP men have won in all the elections, mayor or parliamentary, in Rajshahi city in last one and a half decade. Prospect of BNP candidate is very much brighter this time also, observers say. This phenomenon has made lobbying and grouping in the party for nomination more complex and harder.

A good number of leaders of BNP and its wings have come out to lobby for the party nominations when the incumbent mayor Mijanur Rahman Minu announced that he would not contest the next mayoral election if he

wins the MP election.

The list of aspirants include senior BNP leader and president of Rajshahi Bar Association Advocate Abul Kasem, BNP city unit president Advocate Ekhlak Hossain, BNP city unit vice presdent Lutfar Rahman, BNP district unit organising secretary Salehuddin Baby, Juba Dal city unit convenor MosaddekHoosain Bulbul, Chattra Dal city unit president Shafiqul Haque Milon, district unit president Mijanur Rahman, Juba Dal leader Aslam Sarker and former Chattra Dal leader Shahiduddin Syeed.

A source in BNP said, as Minu could not become a minister, the party is now considering to field him again in the next mayor election.

Aspirants from Awami League included city unit vice president Masudul Haque Dulu and Rajshahi Chamber of commerce and Industry president Omar Farooque Chowdhury .

Though there is no opportunity of lobbying in Jamaat, either its city unit Ameer Ataur Rahamn or city unit political secretary Siddique Hossain is going to be its candidate in the next mayor electioin, Jamaat sources said.

Jatiya Party (Ershad) aspirants are city unit general secretary Moshtaque Ahmed Labu, district unit president Advocate Ekramur Rasul and city unit joint secretary Selim Sardar.

Fazle Hossain Badsha, politbureau member of Workers Party is another aspirant.

BNP and Jamaat sources said, the two parties, being partners of the ruling four-party alliance, are thinking to unitedly contest the mayor election.