JP will participate in polls even if EVMs are used: Raushan Ershad

Jatiya Party chief patron and Opposition Leader Raushan Ershad has said her party will participate in the next parliamentary polls even electronic voting machines (EVMs) are used.

In a prerecorded video message from a hospital in Bangkok, the opposition leader hoped that the next general elections will be fair and those who come to power, will work to take the country forward.

The video message which was recorded on September 25, was released through a press conference at a city hotel today (October 6, 2022).

Golam Moshi, political secretary of Raushan Ershad and a former ambassador, and several other JP leaders who were either not included in any post of the party or relived from their posts due to siding with Raushan, were present at the briefing.

"Raushan Ershad is unwell currently and I think she is acting on someone else's instruction. Her statement on JP's participation in the election does not have any importance," GM Quader told The Daily Star today.

Raushan Ershad does not represent the party and those who are with her also do not belong to the party, he added.

"I, therefore, think her (Raushan) statement will not create any influence in the party and Jatiya Party remains united," he further said.

Without mentioning JP chief GM Quader's name, Raushan in her six minutes video, alleged that the party has become weak and disorganised after the demise of JP founder HM Ershad.

"The party is running properly. The organisation will have to be strong," she said, urging all JP leaders and activists to get united to bring good result in the next general elections.

Raushan said the aim of the next council to be held on November 26, 2023 is to infuse new and young faces in the party to make the organisation strong.

Golam Moshi in the briefing blasted JP top leaders who said Raushan is acting on instruction of certain people who do not belong to Jatiya Party.

Out of ten leaders who were present at yesterday's briefing on the stage, eight were presidium members and two were vice president of JP.

Almost all of them were given relived from the party in the last three years as they were siding with Raushan, party insiders said.

Quader in the last three weeks expelled at least three senior leaders including opposition chief whip Mashiur Rahman Ranga from their posts.

In this situation, tension between the two sides increased further, sources in JP told The Daily Star.

Rift between Raushan, widow of JP founder HM Ershad and GM Quader, younger brother of Ershad started brewing following Raushan's announcement of holding the party's council.

JP Chairman GM Quader recently on several occasions unequivocally said they are against using EVMs in the national polls slated for January, 2024 as according to him EVMs are nothing but a tool for forgery.

On September 25, Quader said JP would not participate in any elections if EVMs are used.