Rangamati may witness a triangular fight

(From Left) Dipankar Talukder, Moitree Chakma and Ushatan Talukder

With Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS) participating in the parliamentary election in Chittagong Hill Tracts for the first time, Rangamati constituency may see a triangular fight, political analysts said.
In the past, support from the PCJSS, a regional organisation of the indigenous people in CHT, helped Awami League to win in the seat but this time PCJSS leaders Ushatan Talukder in Rangamati and KS Moung in Bandarban are vying as independent candidates for the upcoming election.
Five persons are contesting in Rangamati but the contest will be mainly limited to three candidates -- Dipankar Talukder from Awami League and Moitree Chakma from the four-party alliance and PCJSS leader Ushatan Talukder.
All the five candidates are now busy in door-to-door visits to woo 3,31,812 voters in the constituency.
In 1996, Rangamati AL chief Dipankar Talukder as party nominee was elected lawmaker from the constituency.
Dipankar, however, failed to get party nomination for January 2007 parliament election (later cancelled) and filed nomination as an independent candidate.
That time PCJSS top leader Laskmi Prasad Chakma got nomination from AL-led grand electoral alliance.
PCJSS assumes greater importance for the contenders before national elections.
During the AL government from 1996 to 2001, disagreement arose between Dipankar and PCJSS chief Santu Larma centring implementation of CHT peace accord and Dipankar became unpopular to PCJSS.
Consequently, Dipankar was defeated to four-party alliance candidate Moni Swapan in 2001 election.
PCJSS contestant Ushatan Talukder has pledged to establish lasting peace through full implementation of CHT peace deal, bridging gap between indigenous and Bangali people through ensuring communal harmony and overall socio-economic development of the hill people.
Still hopeful of win, Dipankar Talukder has pledged setting up a science and technology university and a medical college and work for infrastructure development in the hill district.
Four-party alliance candidate Moitree Chakma, the lone indigenous woman candidate in CHT, is also conducting campaign in full swing. She has pledged ensuring balanced development and communal harmony in the region and empowerment of women.