Central leaders of the party are divided into two factions on the issue. While one group of JP lawmakers led by Rawshan Ershad wants to keep good relations with the government, the other section of leaders and lawmakers led by JP presidium member and lawmaker Golam Mohammad Kader professes to play an independent role.

The crisis dogging the party has further deepened and the rift between the two factions widened following the Monday's warning notice served by Ershad on Kader for violating the party decision about the 14th amendment bill to the constitution.

The JP initially stood against the government on the bill. But, it was later forced to change its mind allegedly by a threat of the ruling coalition to activate the cases against Ershad, arrest and put him behind bars.

The last minute decision reversing the party attitude to the bill was taken at its parliamentary party meeting on Saturday night, reportedly under government coercion.

The next day, 12 JP lawmakers surprised the country's political quarters by voting in the House in favour of the bill, which also triggered considerable grievances among the many of the party leaders.

TIM Fazle Rabbi Chowdhury and Kader, two of the party's most influential lawmakers, skipped parliament proceedings that day to register their protest against the party's shift of stance. Kader also accused the 12 lawmakers who voted in favour of the bill of violating party decision.

At a presidium meeting Monday, the party chief made a counter accusation against Kader, also of violating party decision by reacting in a bad way. Ershad also show-caused him for misbehaving with fellow party leaders.

Expressing his reactions, Kader yesterday told The Daily Star that he would not reply to the warning letter. "I have nothing to do with this warning letter, as I did not make any derogatory remarks against any party leader. The allegations raised against me are baseless," he claimed, adding, "I have decided to observe the current situation and will decide what I should do after some days."

Kader said he did not violate the party's decision and expressed his own opinion about the bill only after the JP had seconded the bill.

On the situation prevailing in the party, another JP lawmaker named the pending cases against Ershad as a major problem.

"If there was no case against our chairman, Jatiya Party would be able to act independently, without favouring any party," said yet another lawmaker to The Daily Star requesting anonymity.

During the previous BNP regime from 1991 to 1996, Ershad did not get bail in any of the cases. He was granted bails in those after Awami League (AL) took over the power in 1996 and came out of prison. But, as soon as Ershad became vocal against the AL government, he was sent back to jail in Janata Tower cases.