EC invites JP's Ershad faction for talks

The Election Commission (EC) has finally sent invitation letter to Ershad-led Jatiya Party (JP) to participate in dialogue on electoral reforms, rejecting Rawshan Ershad faction.
Protesting the EC's decision, JP faction led by its self-proclaimed chairman Rawshan Ershad will send a letter to EC by next Wednesday claiming their supremacy over the party, sources said.
"We got the EC's invitation letter on Thursday to sit with them (EC) to hold talks on electoral reforms," JP presidium member Ziauddin Bablu yesterday told The Daily Star.
In the letter, addressed to JP Secretary General Ruhul Amin Hawlader, the EC invited JP for holding talks on electoral reforms on November 1.
The EC's decision is likely to bring an end to the row between the two factions over getting invitation for talks.
Both the factions sent letters to the EC to claim that they were the mainstream JP and should be invited to hold dialogue with it on electoral reforms.
Last month, the commission asked Rawshan-led JP to explain under which constitutional basis Rawshan proclaimed herself the party chief.
The EC is yet to be given reply in this regard, Golam Mosih, self-proclaimed secretary general of JP told The Daily Star yesterday.
In a dramatic move, Rawshan Ershad, senior presidium member of Jatiya Party (JP), proclaimed herself the acting party chief on June 26 and unveiled plans for intra-party reforms seeking to dethrone HM Ershad. She also introduced Presidium Member Golam Mosih as the “new secretary general" replacing the incumbent, Ruhul Amin Hawlader.
Later, HM Ershad quit as the Jatiya Party (JP) chairman on June 30 and appointed Presidium Member Anisul Islam Mahmud to deputise for him until the council elects a new chief.
Expressing disappointment for not getting EC's invitation, Golam Mosih told The Daily Star that they will send a letter to EC by Wednesday claiming their supremacy over the party.
"Rawshan was our chief in the last parliament and she is the most senior leader next to HM Ershad. JP under her leadership is the real and mainstream JP," said Golam Mosih.
"Reform in the party is now the demand of time and we are in favour of it," he said adding," If the EC does not appreciate reformists that would be unfair."
JP presidium member Ziauddin Bablu said they will send the EC a list of participants for talks on electoral reforms after the party presidium meeting on October 25.