Narayanganj city polls: Ivy showing off her work, Taimur banks on sentiment
Awami League mayor nominee Selina Hayat Ivy in her re-election campaign is highlighting her development activities while her main rival, independent runner and BNP leader Taimur Alam Khandakar, is trying to cash in on the anti-government sentiment by mobilising support from all opposition parties.
The two heavyweights in the Narayanganj city polls, however, are yet to get all-out support from their respective parties, said locals.
Being the candidate of the ruling party, former mayor Ivy has to endure anti-government criticism. She banks on development works carried out during her previous tenures to fend off the criticism.
Taimur wants support from all opposition parties as he insists that voting for "elephant" (his electoral symbol) would mean "freeing Narayanganj City Corporation from the clutches of contractors' syndicate".
Narayanganj city will go to polls on January 16. A total of seven candidates are running for mayor.
Ivy had been the Narayanganj city mayor for two terms. She also served as chairman of the erstwhile Narayanganj municipality for a five-year term.
"Selina Hayat Ivy has charisma. Our election strategy is very simple -- we will go door to door to win support for her," Adinath Basu, chief election agent of Ivy, told The Daily Star.
Asked whether the party nomination is a blessing for Ivy, he said, "No individual is bigger than the party."
On the other hand, Taimur had to quit the 2011 electoral race just five hours before the start of voting in line with a party order. His supporters said BNP has a vote bank in Narayanganj city and they are now trying to bring all opposition parties together to woo voters.
The BNP, which is boycotting the January 16 polls, recently relieved Taimur of two party posts. A section of party leaders and activists, who are still campaigning for him, said BNP men may refrain from casting ballots, but they will not vote for Ivy.
Taimur's chief election agent ATM Kamal, also the general secretary of Narayanganj city BNP, said: "The city residents are deprived of development. They have been burdened with taxes. People want a change and we are contesting the polls to make this happen."
"Our candidate is an independent runner. We don't represent any particular political party, rather we represent the city dwellers. So we are seeking assistance from all people irrespective of party, cast, creed and religion," he added.
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