JP indecision over polls: Pro-Raushan leaders voice worry to home minister
Jatiya Party leaders loyal to Raushan Ershad have expressed concern over GM Quader's indecision over taking part in the January 7 national election.
The leaders raised the concern in a meeting with Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan at his home in the capital's Monipuripara on Monday night.
The 18-member delegation, led by Golam Moshi, political secretary of Leader of the Opposition Raushan, informed the minister that they want to participate in the election, meeting sources told The Daily Star.
They, however, expressed worries that their participation in the polls hangs in the balance as JP Chairman Quader is yet to make the final decision.
"If the leaders loyal to GM Quader decide to stay away from polls at the last moment, our hopes to run in the election will be dashed as the party chairman has the authority to sign nomination papers of the candidates," a JP leader, who was present at the meeting, told The Daily Star. "We will be in a big trouble if GM Quader stays away from the polls," the leader said.
The home minister told the JP leaders that he would raise the issue before the Awami League high-ups.
The meeting was held around 10:30pm.
This correspondent could not reach the minister yesterday for comments as he did not answer phone calls or texts.
Asked, JP Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu refused to make any comment on this issue.
Although the JP has been selling nomination forms since Monday, Chunnu said the party was undecided about running.
Yesterday, he said it was not possible to hold a 100 percent fair election under the current system.
"We have been demanding a fair and credible election. But a congenial environment for such an election has not been created," he told reporters at the JP chairman's Banani office.
He said the party chief will make the final decision regarding running in the election.
Chunnu said there are questions in people's mind whether they will be able to cast ballots and that is why the JP is taking time to decide.
Asked about division between Quader and Raushan, the JP secretary general said the party is united under the leadership of its chairman.
The opposition party sold 622 nomination forms yesterday, taking the figure to 1,179 in two days. The JP earned Tk 3.53 crore from the sale of nomination papers at Tk 30,000 each.
JP MPs Golam Kibria Tipu, Liaquat Hossain Khoka and Panir Uddin Ahmed, among others, collected nomination forms yesterday, said party sources.
Raushan, the chief patron of the JP, is yet to buy a nomination form, said Joint Office Secretary Mahmudul Alam.
The sale of the party's nomination forms will end tomorrow. After interviewing the nomination seekers, the JP will announce the candidates on November 27.