Third Phase Up Polls: Walkovers, AL rebels increase
The numbers of candidates set to be elected unopposed and rebels from the ruling Awami League in the third phase of union parishad polls are higher than in the first two phases.
AL insiders blame local MPs from the party for this situation in most places.
Many of the lawmakers forced candidates into withdrawing from the race, paving the way for the unopposed election of candidates of their choice. In some cases, the MPs encouraged their loyal supporters to contest as dissidents after they failed to secure the party's nomination, they said.
Amid a high number of party rebels, the insiders fear that intra-party clashes might increase centring the third phase election, due on November 28, leading to casualties.
At least 40 people were killed in violence across the country during the second phase of polls held last Thursday, according to media reports.
One-thousand-and-four union parishads across the country are set to go to polls in the third phase.
Five-hundred-and-sixty candidates, including 100 vying for chairman posts, are set to be elected uncontested in the third phase, according to sources at the Election Commission.
The rest of the 560 candidates are contesting for member posts and reserved seats for women.
Almost all of these candidates are from the ruling AL, said party sources, adding that this came to light on Thursday, which was the last day for withdrawal of candidature.
In the second phase of the polls to the lowest tier of local government, at least 81 won uncontested in chairman elections in 848 unions. In the first phase, on June 21, the number was 28 against 204 unions, EC data shows.
The AL, in the meantime, keeps struggling with its rebel candidates.
Ignoring stern warnings from the AL high-ups, 1,069 leaders or activists of different tiers of the party are contesting the November 28 polls as independents.
The number of such candidates was 690 in the second phase when AL recommended expulsion of all who would work for dissidents.
But the warning have apparently not worked much.
'MPS BEHIND IT'
Talking to The Daily Star, several AL insiders, wishing not to be named, said in many places candidates favoured by local MPs got AL nominations. Those MPs then put pressure on rival candidates to withdraw.
Many rival candidates ultimately gave in, paving the way for the unopposed election of many, they said.
In one case, they said, AL MP from Shariatpur-1 (Sadar Upazila and Jajira), Iqbal Hossain, on October 28 allegedly told the returning officer of Chitolia Union Parishad polls that there would be no election in that UP and that "everyone would be selected".
Many candidates in Chitolia UP alleged their signatures were forged on nomination papers to have them removed from the election race.
After they approached Returning Officer Alamgir Hossain, the RO reportedly told them it was done at the MP's instruction. An audio clip of an alleged conversation between a candidate and the RO in this regard has gone viral.
The MP denies all the allegations.
AL LEADERS' RELATIVES ELECTED UNOPPOSED
Raozan of Chattogram is one of upazilas where voting would not be required in most union parishads on November 28.
Chairman and member candidates in 14 unions are set to be selected without a single vote being cast.
The winning candidates are said to be the followers of local AL MP ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury.
Al candidates in five unions of Matlab north and Matlab south upazilas of Chandpur are also going to be elected to chairman posts without voting.
According to local sources, Shamsul Haq Chowdhury, who is set to be elected unopposed from Mohanpur union as chairman, is the younger brother of former minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya.
Nurul Amin, to be elected unopposed from Pashwim Fotehpur Union, is the younger brother of Nurul Amin, a ruling AL MP from Chandpur-2.
MANY INDEPENDENTS FROM BNP
Although the BNP is not formally taking part in the UP elections, many of the party's grassroots leaders are running as independents.
Around 379 leaders and activists of the party are participating in the third phase of UP polls, said party sources.
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