AL allies to seek more but may get less
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candidatures of its nominees signed so that the candidates can be withdrawn from those constituencies which would be set aside for its partners, said sources.
However, AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader’s remarks on the necessity of seat-sharing has created unease among the 14-party alliance partners.
Speaking to reporters at the AL president’s Dhanmondi office, Quader yesterday said the party was yet to make any decision on forging an electoral alliance for the January 7 national election.
“An alliance is forged against another one. If our opponents form a coalition, we will forge one. But if it is not needed, we will not form an alliance.”
He said the AL will not forge any alliance without a strategic purpose.
Sources said some top leaders of the 14-party alliance have communicated with each other over Quader’s remarks. They also contacted veteran AL leader Amir Hossain Amu, also the coordinator of the alliance.
Amu assured them that the AL will run under the banner of the 14-party alliance.
Earlier, the AL in a letter to the Election Commission had informed it that the party would contest the parliamentary polls under an alliance.
Speaking to The Daily Star, some alliance leaders said Quader made the remarks in an effort to “make a settled issue unsettled”.
Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon said there was no logic behind Quader’s comments as AL President Sheikh Hasina informed the EC in a letter that the party would take part in the election under an alliance and the alliance partners could run with “boat” symbol.
JSD General Secretary Shirin Akter said the alliance partners will sit with the AL chief soon. If that meeting decides that the ruling party won’t run under the banner of the alliance, the JSD will contest the polls with its own electoral symbol “torch”, she added.
AL sources said Quader’s remarks gave the hint that the ruling party would set out fewer seats for its allies compared to the last election.
Sources said the 14-party alliance partners have sent lists to the AL of their desired constituencies. According to them, Workers Party demanded 30 seats, the JSD 10 and Bangladesh Tarikat Federation 13 seats. Also, Samyabadi Dal General Secretary Dilip Barua wants to run from Chattogram-1.
The alliance partners will bargain with the AL for 18 seats, but the ruling party may assign fewer seats to them compared to the last election.
In the 2018 elections, the 14-party allies got 11 seats, down from 15 in the 2014 polls.
Currently, there are eight lawmakers from the AL’s alliance partners -- three each from the JSD and Workers Party, one from Jatiya Party (Manju) and one from Tarikat Federation. Besides, two more MPs were elected in the 2018 elections with “boat” symbol from Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, a partner of the AL-led electoral alliance.
According to sources, the JSD has finalised a list of its 40 candidates, Workers Party 21 candidates, and JP (Manju) 15 candidates. Besides, over 100 candidates from Tarikat Federation are preparing to participate in the election.
Workers Party President Menon said his party prepared a list of 21 candidates, but it would bargain with the AL for seven seats. He said the party candidates will run with its own symbol “hammer” in the rest of the 14 constituencies.