Polls in January?

A section of leaders and lawmakers of ruling Awami League-led alliance have begun to persuade the government to amend the constitution for holding the next general elections after the current parliament completes its five-year term in January 2014.
According to the constitution, the election must be held within 90 days before the tenure of the parliament expires. So the next general polls need to held between October 25 and January 24.
But in case the parliament is dissolved before October 25 the election must be held within 90 days after that.
The provision was introduced by amending the constitution in June 2011, replacing the previous one that had allowed polls within 90 days after the parliament's dissolution. It did not matter if the parliament's tenure was over or not.
The alliance leaders in favour of holding the polls after January 24 are saying the delay will increase chances of reaching a consensus among political parties over the polls-time government and create a congenial environment.
Besides, if the election is held between October and January as per the constitution, the government will have less time to settle some burning issues, argue the leaders.
According to them, if the election is held after January 25, the government will be able to implement some important development projects and execute a few verdicts of war crimes trial which will give AL a positive image ahead of the election.
Seeking anonymity, one of the leaders of this section told The Daily Star that if the election is delayed there might emerge a scope for finding a solution over the polls-time government with the main opposition BNP.
Contacted, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, however, said no such discussion had taken place in the party and neither the prime minister nor the party general secretary had made any remarks in this regard.
"If anyone has said this, it is his or her observation," she said.
Echoing Matia, AL presidium member Nooh-ul-Alam Lenin said there was no scope for holding the election after January without amending the constitution.
He said they had no plan to bring changes in the constitution.
The leaders who are advocating for the idea include presidium members, advisory council members, departmental secretaries and lawmakers.
Divided into several groups these leaders are trying to convince top policymakers, leaders and lawmakers who either have influence on party politics or are close to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, according to AL insiders.
One of the AL policymakers said he had been approached by a group of leaders with the idea. Preferring not to be quoted, the leader told The Daily Star that he was not convinced.
"I think if the prime minister accepts the idea, it will fetch nothing but negative results," observed the AL leader.
Jatiya Party policymaker Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu said if the election was delayed by three months the lawmakers would not remain in office.
“Thus a congenial environment will be created which the major political parties may accept,” he told The Daily Star.