President Iajuddin Ahmed, who had taken over as the CA ignoring several constitutional provisions regarding appointment to this post, kept on informing the nation in different ways that the CG led by him created an ideal atmosphere for holding a free and fair election.

He also repeatedly claimed that there was no scope to delay the polls, the Election Commission (EC) had completed all preparations including updating the voter list, and was determined to hold the election set for January 22 even by using the armed forces.

But his address to the nation Thursday night totally contradicted his earlier stances, proving that earlier he had tried to keep the people in the dark about all these matters.

He admitted that the whole nation has plunged into an abyss of concern, instability and uncertainty. And discipline is seriously affected.

On voter list, Iajuddin admitted flaws in the process of updating it, and said it is imperative to prepare a flawless voter list for a free and fair election. "It is not possible to hold an acceptable election within the stipulated 90 days, and without correcting the voter list," he said on Thursday.

Earlier in a statement on January 6, the president said the government firmly believes that the January 22 election will be held in a "free, fair and impartial manner". He also said if any political party feels it has the right to withdraw from polls race at the eleventh hour of the election process, nothing can be done, and reaffirmed that he is committed to handing over power to a government elected in time.

In an address to the nation on December 10, the president said, "The Election Commission has already taken all steps to hold the election in time. Various steps taken for updating the voter list, administrative changes and reconstitution of the Election Commission have created an ideal atmosphere for holding a fair election."

The government is committed to performing its constitutional duties, he said, remaining rigid on his stance for holding the election on January 22 on the excuse of constitutional obligation.

But he said on Thursday any election without participation of all the parties will not be acceptable at home and abroad.

In the January 6 statement, he noted, "The EC has nothing to do except holding the polls after the nomination withdrawal stage is over."

He also said those already declared MP-elect unopposed by this time have the scope to take up the matter in court. "At this stage of the election process, according to the constitution, there is no scope for sending reference to the court," the caretaker government chief categorically said to seal such an option suggested by many.

But resigning from the post of the CA amid growing political crisis, the president said a newly constituted interim government would hold a free, fair, neutral and acceptable election to parliament within the shortest possible time in consultation with all parties concerned.

The EC has unofficially postponed all activities relating to holding the election on January 22.

Apart from the contradictory statements and speeches, the president in the last two and a half months took various unilateral steps triggering enormous controversy.

As the CA, Iajuddin kept all the vital ministries related to the election under his authority, and even he made himself chief of two vital advisory committees on administrative affairs, and law and order, though he was in charge of two ministries--establishment and home affairs.

Iajuddin's unilateral steps deepened the political crisis gradually and finally on January 3, the Awami League-led grand alliance quit the election race and announced it would resist the polls.

Earlier, the president allegedly made the EC announce the election schedule hurriedly on November 27. And he apparently opposed the council of advisers' move to resolve the political crisis by sending Election Commissioner SM Zakaria on leave of absence early in December. Later on December 20, he consented to the move to send Zakaria on leave of absence.

Iajuddin had unilaterally decided to deploy the armed forces on December 9 to face the political agitation, disregarding strong objection from the council of advisers. The president's unilateral decision annoyed the advisers and four of them resigned from their posts on December 11. Later on December 13, he ordered the armed forces to remain standby instead of taking any action to maintain law and order.

In one of his most stunning moves, Iajuddin promoted his press secretary Mokhlesur Rahman Chowdhury to the post of adviser to the president, with the status of a state minister, after allegations had been made by the political parties, excepting BNP-led four-party alliance, that Mokhlesur had been leaking confidential details of the advisory council meetings to the immediate past ruling coalition.