Ershad: The great contortionist

HUSSAIN Muhammad Ershad has done what he is famous for: changing his colour at the eleventh hour through switching sides. If you vigilantly pore over the traits of political leaders of the 21st century then you would surely find no one as erratic as a politician as the former general. It is difficult to comprehend the logical grounds behind Ershad's most recent political move since there are more incomprehensible reasons behind the comprehensible ones. However, he has announced his party's exit from the upcoming polls. 
What's exciting to observe after the Ershad-led JP fraction is the painstaking efforts by the Jatiya Party candidates already filing nominations for most of the 300 parliament seats. What would happen to them? And Ershad's definition of a 'Proper Environment' for the polls still needs to be known since there wasn't much difference between the ongoing political stalemate now as then. Frankly speaking, parliamentary seats won by his party surely matters to the two major political parties in Bangladesh. Moreover, it will certainly be a decisive factor in the upcoming national polls (if it happens). Some may ask if the two parties can compete without his alliance -- well, the answer is 'No' because our two parties have failed to learn the political lesson: ignore Ershad at your own peril.
Perceptions created about Ershad despite such political turmoil sometimes seem different from reality. Ershad's urban-public perception contrasts with his rural-public perception momentously, especially in the northern regions where his brand of politics is interpreted differently. Given the facts about a fallen dictator a question naturally arise 'what have our two political parties -- as yet achieved -- to become more popular within the JP constituencies than Ershad?' Not much so that they could outsmart the general. Instead, they have swung towards the dictator too. May be Ershad's swinging nature is also a reason that both the parties find tempting. However, we are yet to see for how long his recent swing lasts.
His recent impulsive political behaviour could be a subject of debate as well as his tumultuous nine year tenure as the head of the country, but there is no denying that Ershad is an ambitious power player who has survived upheavals of all sorts. Though he is yet to be the Knight in local politics, it's time to see which of the 'to-be-Queen' gets him in his ever shining armour!
 

The writer is Current Affairs Analyst, The Daily Star.

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