Jatiya Party to float new alliance soon

With the next general election due in less than two years, Jatiya Party is going to form a new political alliance, party insiders said.

JP chief HM Ershad is likely to announce formation of the 15-party combine next week.

As part of finalising the process of floating the new alliance, the JP chairman in the last few days had a series of meetings with leaders of different political parties, including a faction of Islami Oikya Jote (Nejami) that left the BNP-led 20-party alliance last year.

According to JP sources, all the 15 political parties to be included in the proposed alliance are not registered with the Election Commission.

The proposed components of the alliance are Labour Party, Amjanata Party, Gonotantrik National Awami Party, Awami Party, Bangladesh National Democratic Party, Bangladesh Gonotantrik Andolon, Islami Democratic Party, Krishak Sramik Party, United Muslim League, Gono Adhikar Party, Tafsil Federation, Jatiya Hindu League, Socheton Hindu Party, Bangladesh Peoples Democratic Party and Islami Gono Andolon.  

Ershad yesterday met with leaders of the 15 parties at his Banani office to finalise the formation of the alliance.

Wishing not to be named, a JP presidium member said they were trying to convince some other political parties, particularly those members of the BNP-led 20-party alliance who are registered with the EC.

The JP was also making attempts to include in the proposed alliance some factions of political parties, including National Peoples Party, National Democratic Party and Muslim League, who left the 20-party alliance on different grounds, added the leader.

Another JP central leader said the party chief's move to form the new alliance was aimed at creating political pressure on BNP as a political strategy.

“We know there is not a single leader in the components of the proposed 15-party alliance who has a minimum prospect of winning a parliamentary seat in the next national election,” added the leader close to Ershad.

He said formation of the new alliance would enable the JP to have a presence in media. “People would talk on the issue and that would be our political gain.”

The JP had moved to form an electoral alliance before the January 5, 2014 parliamentary election. The move was later cancelled following announcements by the 20-party alliance and most other political parties that they would boycott the polls.