Aspirants of the ruling Awami League and other parties are running campaigns in full swing for the upcoming election in Joypurhat 2 constituency.
BNP won the constituency from 1991 to 2008 elections but Awami League won the seat in the previous election held in 2014.
The constituency, comprised of Kalai Khetlal and Akkelpur upazilas, has a total of 307,227 voters (155,753 men and 151, 474 women).
Awami League is stronger in terms of organizing capability, but there is conflict among the leaders. However, the leaders believe they will overcome this friction before the election.
There is also internal feud in BNP. Moreover, the party is weak in terms of organizing activities.
However, there is no rivalry in the opposition party in parliament, Jatiya Party and other parties.
Awami League nomination-seekers
Current Awami League MP Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapan is again seeking nomination to run for the election.
He has developed a conflict with the party’s district unit President and Joypurhat 1 MP Shamsul Alam Dudu and General Secretary SM Solaiman Ali over several issues.
But the majority of the activists are loyal to MP Abu Sayeed.
He has done much work for the development of the constituency in the last five years, which helped him win hearts of the locals.
The grassroots leaders think Abu Sayeed should be the candidate from this constituency.
He is facing two other aspirants—SM Solaiman Ali and Awami League’s central sub-committee leader Tajmahal Hirak.
BNP frontrunners
BNP nomination hopefuls include former BNP MP Golam Mostafa, Abu Yusuf Md Khalilur Rahman, Ali Hasan Mukta, Lion Sirajul Islam, Rawnakul Islam Tipu Chowdhury and Kamruzzaman Kamal.
The party is disorientated as there has been no MP in the constituency for over a decade.
Leaders are trying hard to organize themselves ahead of the election.
Aspirants from other parties
Jatiya Party central committee member Kazi Abul Kashem Ripon is campaigning in the constituency as the lone aspirant.
The party is not strong in the constituency.
No other parties were seen active in campaigning.