The Comilla City Corporation (COCC) is gearing up for a by-election on Saturday, with four candidates vying for the mayoral position in a closely contested competition.
The four rival candidates fully immersed themselves in their campaign endeavors from dawn till dusk for the last few days. Now the voters will decide who will become the guardian of Comilla city.
The four candidates are Monirul Haque Sakku (Table Clock), a two-time former mayor expelled from the BNP; Dr Tahsin Bahar Souchna (Bus), Comilla Metropolitan Awami League organizing secretary and MP Bahar's daughter; Nizam Uddin Kaiser (Horse), leader of the Swechasebak Dal; and Noor ur Rahman Mahmud Tanim (Elephant), advisor to the Metropolitan Awami League unit.
While all candidates have affiliations with either the Awami League or the BNP, the outcome remains uncertain, with the potential for each to garner respectable votes.
Sakku eyes floating voters
Monirul Haque Sakku's expulsion from the BNP, due to his defiance of the party's stance in the 2022 city election, adds a layer of intrigue to the contest.
Despite his expulsion, Sakku maintains a loyal following due to his prior tenure as municipal chairman and city mayor, which has earned him a distinct vote bank beyond party lines.
His narrow defeat in the 2022 election by a mere 347 votes shows his enduring influence.
Sakku devised his election strategy by aligning himself with his former party, the BNP’s core principles, despite his expulsion. His vote bank consists of not only party followers but also general people due to his track record of city development.
Eyes are particularly fixed on the floating voter segment, whose allegiance holds significant sway in determining the election's outcome.
While senior BNP figures may not overtly support him, indirect efforts from various quarters bolster his confidence in securing victory.
Strong party support for Tahsin Bahar
One notable advantage of Dr Tahsin Bahar lies in the robust support she enjoys from her team.
Despite her relatively young age, as the organizing secretary of the Awami League in the city, she stands to tap into the party's reserved vote.
This advantage stems from her familial ties, as her father, AKM Bahauddin Bahar, serves as the MP of Comilla-6 (Sadar) constituency, boasting a significant number of supporters.
Additionally, Tahsin Bahar benefits from backing at the Metropolitan Committee level, with leaders and activists rallying to her cause.
However, being a newcomer to the political fray, Tahsin's ability to sway general voters remains uncertain.
Wishing to remain anonymous, a local leader said it looks odd that the father is the MP and the daughter is the city mayor candidate. This is particularly unusual as Metropolitan Senior Vice President Advocate Zahirul Haque and Acting General Secretary Atiq Ullah Khan Khokon had eyed candidacy as well.
Nevertheless, Tahsin's candidacy has garnered initial momentum, buoyed by a rallying cry for unity among party members. Her active engagement with the public during the pandemic bolsters her standing among ordinary citizens, translating into substantial grassroots support.
Kaiser more optimistic this time
Nizam Uddin Kaiser, buoyed by his experience in the 2022 election where he secured approximately 30,000 votes in his maiden campaign, approaches the by-polls with renewed optimism.
Despite his expulsion from the party, Kaiser has cultivated close relationships with key leaders within the Comilla South district and Metropolitan BNP.
Notably, his familial ties, with his sister-in-law Haji Amin Ur-Rashid Yashin serving as the convener of the BNP district, have garnered substantial support from within the party ranks.
Furthermore, Kaiser's credentials as the former president of Victoria Government College Chhatra Dal and his leadership within the student parliament have engendered a loyal following.
Supporters believe that his candidacy will attract anti-government sentiment, further bolstering his electoral prospects.
However, internal dissent threatens to undermine Kaiser's bid, as some senior leaders express discontent over his relatively youthful candidacy. Any internal rifts may prove detrimental to Kaiser's electoral ambitions.
Undeterred, Kaiser positions himself as the flagbearer of the BNP, capitalizing on public dissatisfaction with the government's governance.
Asserting Comilla's historical significance as a bastion of BNP support, Kaiser portrays himself as the rightful inheritor of this political legacy.
He contends that, with the support of like-minded political entities and disillusioned voters, victory under the horse symbol is inevitable in a fair and transparent election.
As Kaiser stakes his claim as the standard-bearer of BNP, the success of his campaign hinges on navigating internal party dynamics while rallying disaffected voters to his cause.
Tamim looking for party backing
Noor-ur Rahman Mahmud Tanim was once a close associate of MP Bahar. However, due to various reasons, they grew apart.
However, Tanim managed to build a following among the youth segment of the ruling party. He is also managed to build a close association with another influential family of late Afzal Khan.
In the 2012 election, Tanim contested as an independent candidate against formidable opponents, amassing over 7,000 votes. This track record fuels optimism among his supporters, who predict that he will garner favor from the Khan family, translating into increased votes. However, the public endorsement from notable figures within the Khan family remains elusive, leaving the distribution of late Afzal Khan's followers' votes uncertain.
Nevertheless, Tanim remains optimistic about his prospects. He said: “This time, the Awami League did not field any candidate publicly. So, I am also representing the Awami League.”
He said the grassroots support mobilized under his electoral symbol elephant.
Voting on Saturday
On December 13, Comilla City Corporation mayor Arfanul Haque Rifat passed away while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Singapore.
Later, on January 22, the Election Commission fixed March 9 for the by-polls. The government announced a public holiday on that day in the city.
The voting will be held through Electronic Voting Machine (EVM).
The first election of this city corporation was held on January 5, 2012 and the second election of the city was held on March 30, 2017.
In 2012, Sakku contested as an independent candidate and defeated veteran Awami League leader Afzal Khan by over 35,000 votes in the first election to the city corporation. In 2017, he won against Afzal Khan’s daughter Anjum Sultana Sima by a margin of around 11,000 votes.
On June 15, 2022, the third election took place where late Rifat defeated Sakku in a tight battle -- by a margin of 343 votes.
