Local election watchers and politicians are saying the Rajshahi City Corporation Election will be a close race between ruling and opposition parties with the outgoing mayor and pro-Awami League candidate pitching to the people with his work, and his closest contender, the BNP-backed candidate, basing his campaign on the ruling government’s flaws and religious inclinations.
They said with candidates holding nearly the same number of specific voters as the 2010 polls, the outcome would largely swing based on the calls by the 28,000 new voters.
The electioneering by mayoral and councillor aspirants ended at midnight yesterday with authorities setting the stage for Saturday’s ballot. So far, the race is still between AL and BNP, as there are barely any internal conflict within the parties themselves, that would break up their cut of the total 286,888 registered voters.
In the last city polls, held on August 4, 2010, the incumbent mayor and Awami League-backed contender Khairuzzaman Liton received 98,360 votes while two independent candidates from his area secured another 6,512 votes. On the other hand, BNP-backed Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul secured 74,550 votes and alleged that his run was marred, because most of his campaigners were behind bars or on the run during the military-backed caretaker government’s tenure at the time.
Liton’s supporters are counting on the votes cut out by the independent candidates last time, entering his box, and claimed that the recent havoc by Hefazat-e-Islam activists around the country would get them new votes, including those from women.
The outgoing mayor based his campaign mostly on his contributions, including providing gas connections, developing a clean city, building parks for city dwellers, and providing quality roads and lighting. His campaigners said they are expecting educated people and poor people in the area to be on his side.
However, his opponent, Bulbul, has been concentrating on bringing up national issues to the fore and was trying to cultivate anti-government sentiments to convince voters. They are counting on the full support of Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazaat supporters, and estimate around 12,000 votes from that side.
As a result, they have turned their focus to floating voters and were trying to convince them by criticising the government. They were also using the flushing out of Hefazat activists by law enforcers from Motijheel on May 6, as an area where they could gain new support by utilising religious sentiments.
Rajshahi University Management Department’s Chairman Moloy Kumar Bhowmick pointed out that Awami League candidates have never won any Rajshahi polls except in the 2008 general, and 2010 city corporation elections. “The area is a huge stronghold for BNP and Jamaat. The inhabitants are religious and poll candidates have used the sentiment to cultivate an anti-Awami League atmosphere. This time, BNP men are distributing cash in the slums and spreading propaganda over the Hefazat issue.”
He commented that the negative campaign would adversely effect Liton’s support, and he could win only if he puts emphasis on the support of progressive, educated and poor people. “He did some outstanding work and voters should consider that beyond any political agenda.”
Meanwhile Moloy’s colleague and chief of Sammilito Nagorik Forum, Prof M Rafiqul Islam said Liton did some decorative development works but has high chances of becoming corrupted. “If anyone holds a post for two terms, he becomes corrupted. So we need a change this time.”