AL's Motiur emerges as rival to Rawshan

Rawshan Ershad and Motiur Rahman

Voters of grand alliance in Mymensingh-4 (Sadar) are in a dilemma as to who is the candidate for the alliance there.
Campaign of both Awami League nominee Principal Motiur Rahman and grand alliance candidate Rawshan Ershad is going on simultaneously in the district town.
After spreading news of Principal Motiur Rahman's getting back nomination, President of District AL, the election wave in Mymensingh-4 (Sadar) constituency has taken another shape. Veteran AL leader Motiur Rahman filed the nomination as AL candidate but Jatiya Party Presidium member Rawshan Ershad was fielded as grand alliance candidate.
AL sources said that earlier Rawshan Ershad was fielded as grand alliance candidate in Mymensingh-4 following a letter signed by AL Chief Sheikh Hasina on December 11. But Motiur Rahman did not withdraw his candidature. Later in another letter on December 12 night from central AL, it was said that Principal Motiur Rahman is AL's candidate and the fax message sent earlier favouring Rawshan Ershad's candidature was served wrongly, AL sources said.
Following the letter of AL Chief, Motiur Rahman made an appeal with the Election Commission but failed to get his candidature. Later he filed a writ petition with the High Court on December 17 and the High Court declared his candidature valid.
On contact, Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer of Mymensingh Ziaur Rahman Khan told this correspondent that they have not received any direction from EC about the candidature of Principal Motiur Rahman or to allot election symbol for him till 6.15 pm Thursday.
AL men have come out with hectic election campaign from last night. Campaign is on with beating of drums and huge slogans have made election environment lively. The campaign of Rowshan Ershad as grand alliance is also on in the town. Through campaign using loud speakers she is being termed as grand alliance candidate seeking votes for "plough".
In last general election in 2001, BNP nominee Delwar Hossain Khan Dulu won bagging 102016 votes. His nearest rival AL's Principal Motiur Rahman secured 83380 votes.
Grass roots AL leaders and activists earlier urged the party high command to give nomination to Principal Motiur Rahman. They hoped that Motiur Rahman would be a fit candidate to regain the seat lost to BNP. BNP-led four party alliance has nominated former state minister AKM Mosharraf Hossain in the seat. He hails from adjacent Mymensingh-5 (Muktagacha) seat and considered as a "guest candidate".