AL-JP feud over ticket in Satkhira-2
As the possibility of Jatiya Party's (Ershad) joining the Awami League-led 'grand alliance' becoming stronger again, AL leaders in Satkhira are worried as JP is demanding Satkhira-2 (Sadar) seat in the upcoming parliamentary election.
JP leader businessman Abdul Jabbar got the grand alliance ticket to run in constituency in January 22 election last year, which was postponed.
Jabbar, an aspirant for alliance ticket in the upcoming December 18 election also, has already started mass contact in the area, sources said.
But local AL leaders and activists said, as in last year, they will not 'surrender' Satkhira-2 (Sadar) constituency to Jatiya Party this time.
Talking to this correspondent, Satkhira Poura AL president Sheikh Nurul Haque said, “JP should not stick to its demand because of its organisational weakness and also because its candidate is a non-political element”.
Satkhira district AL secretary Nazrul Islam is determined to contest from the constituency this time. Nazrul ran second in 2001 polls.
AL won three seats in Satkhira in 1996 polls but lost all to 4-party alliance in 2001 election. AL candidates however ran second in all the five constituencies in the district.
“Party high-ups must not give the seat to JP as only Nazrul can defeat Jamaat-e-Islami candidate there,” Sadar upazila AL president SM Shawkat Hossain said.
Front ranking JP leaders however claimed that Jabbar would be able to win the seat in the coming election.
“Jabbar will get the ticket if Awami League forgoes it”, said Ashrafuzzaman Ashu, member secretary of Satkhira district JP.
“None but Nazrul will be accepted as alliance candidate from Satkhira-2 constituency as only he will be able to win the seat in the upcoming election”, said Sadar upazila AL secretary Shahjahan Ali.
On contact, Nazrul Islam said he sought nomination from Satkhira-2 in 2007 election but was not given. He will seek nomination again this time.
“The situation in Satkhira-2 will turn volatile if he (Nazrul) is not nominated”, said district AL organising secretary Firoz Ahmed.
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