JP won't back any candidate
Jatiya Party yesterday decided not to back any mayoral aspirant in the ensuing Rangpur City Corporation election centring a conflict over picking a favourite.
The party also expelled two of its leaders -- Abdur Rouf Manik and Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa, JP Chairman HM Ershad told a press briefing at his Banani office in the capital.
The two are in the mayoral race.
Meanwhile, JP presidium member and mayoral hopeful Mosiur Rahman Ranga withdrew his nomination papers around 3:00pm yesterday, the last day for withdrawal of candidacy for the December 20 poll.
The JP on November 6 extended its support to Ranga for contesting the election. But Manik and Mostafa submitted nomination papers, claiming themselves as party favourites.
Regarding the party's stance, Ershad said the JP backed Ranga due to his dedication to the party, but later changed the decision to clear confusion among voters.
"I have requested Manik and Mostafa to withdraw their candidatures, but they refused," he added.
Our Rangpur correspondent adds: Addressing a press conference at the party's Rangpur city office yesterday, Ranga said, “As a leader of Jatiya Party, I must comply with the decision of the party's high-ups. Therefore, I decided not to contest the poll.â€
Contacted, Abdur Rouf Manik said as he had resigned from the party earlier, the JP presidium's decision on his expulsion could not be effective.
“But still I consider Ershad as my leader because he picked me for the party and helped me get elected mayor of the erstwhile Rangpur municipality,†he added.
The government upgraded the Rangpur municipality to a city corporation on June 28.
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