Following the trend set by its founder, Hussain Muhammad Ershad, the Jatiya Party (JaPa), the opposition party in parliament, is still maintaining its “unpredictable” character before the 12th parliamentary election, according to leaders of the Awami League.
While JaPa, led by its Chairman GM Quader, the brother of the late President Ershad, negotiates constituencies with the ruling party Awami League, JaPa led by its main patron Raushan Ershad, the wife of Ershad and also the leader of the opposition, has been requesting the ruling party not to form an alliance with JaPa led by GM Quader.
However, the leaders of JaPa led by Raushan, who met with the prime minister yesterday, did not have a valid nomination form, except for the lawmaker of Rangpur-1, Mashiur Rahman Ranga. On the other hand, JaPa led by GM Quader has named candidates for 287 seats, excluding its main patron Raushan Ershad and the son of Ershad, Saad Ershad, both of whom are also lawmakers.
After the meeting with the prime minister, JaPa leaders led by Raushan said that Raushan had requested Awami League President Sheikh Hasina not to go for any seat-sharing agreement or alliance with the JaPa faction led by GM Quader, claiming he forcibly took over the party.
Regarding the meeting, Jatiya Party (JaPa) Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu yesterday said that Raushan Ershad is still the opposition leader, and she can meet the leader of the House at any time.
Chunnu also reiterated that JaPa has come forward to join the next national election scheduled for January 7, not to quit it.
“I can tell you one thing clearly: the Jatiya Party is here to contest in the polls. The Jatiya Party did not come here to quit,” he told reporters.
Awami League wants JaPa to join polls
Several Awami League leaders, while talking with Dhaka Tribune yesterday, said that they are optimistic that the Jatiya Party will be with the Awami League in the final election race, but doubts remain as the Jatiya Party since its birth has been an “unpredictable” party.
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself expressed such doubts while talking to her cabinet colleagues after the cabinet meeting on Monday.
However, the AL leaders who are having a series of meetings with JaPa leaders led by GM Quader said anonymously that they are confident that JaPa will join the race, and seat-sharing talks with the party are underway and will be cleared on December 17.
Awami League sources said the Jatiya Party wanted at least 50 seats from the Awami League, but the Awami League is likely going to give them around 30 seats. However, seat-sharing has not been finalised yet, as Awami League wants a competitive election while JaPa leaders want assurances of winning.
When asked, JaPa Secretary General Chunnu said that there is no scope to make any comment on what Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, noting that it is up to her whether she believes them or not.
He also said there is no reason to quit the election if the Election Commission and the government ensure an environment that creates confidence in voters.
When asked, a senior leader of the Awami League said: “We have to deal with GM Quader supporters as Raushan supporters are out of the electoral race now; their issues might be settled later.”
What happened in the 2008, 2014, and 2018 elections
In 2008, the Jatiya Party contested for 49 seats in the 9th national parliament elections as part of the Grand Alliance.
The Awami League did not field any candidates in 29 of these seats. The Jatiya Party could not win in any of the remaining 20 seats where the Awami League fielded candidates.
In 2014, the Jatiya Party won 33 seats in the 10th parliamentary elections, and Awami League did not field any candidates for these seats.
At that time, there were candidates of the Awami League and Jatiya Party in 46 constituencies across the country, but the candidate of Jatiya Party managed to win in only one of these.
In 2018, the Awami League conceded 26 seats to the Jatiya Party for the 11th national parliament elections, but the party won twenty-one of them.
In the 145 constituencies contested by the two parties, Jatiya Party candidates could not win any of them.
For the 12th parliamentary election, the Awami League nominated candidates for 298 seats, but later decided to release some seats to other members of the 14-party alliance.
On the other hand, Jatiya Party candidates have filed nomination papers in 287 constituencies. The Awami League does not want to give up seats directly to Jatiya Party this time, in order to make the election more competitive.
Raushan meets PM Hasina, slams GM Quader
The vehicle carrying Raushan Ershad entered the premier’s official residence, Ganabhaban, at around 12:30pm yesterday with her son Saad Ershad and her Political Secretary Golam Masih, Moshiur Rahman Ranga, MP, and Kazi Mamunur Rashid.
During the meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Raushan Ershad requested Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina not to form an alliance with the JaPa faction led by GM Quader, former JaPa secretary general Moshiur Rahman Ranga told reporters at a press briefing after the meeting.
Ranga said: "We do not support the actions of GM Quader regarding the upcoming election. He forcibly took over the Jatiya Party, which is why Raushan Ershad has requested the prime minister not to form an alliance with the Jatiya Party.
“The Jatiya Party founder’s wife, son, and two-time secretary general did not receive nominations for the election. So who are they going to contest the election with? We are not with that [faction of] the Jatiya Party. We will not join the polls with them."
He added: "Around 200 to 300 party activists and leaders have been unjustly expelled. Capable candidates have been insulted by not being given nominations. We have requested that there should be no alliance with GM Quader’s Jatiya Party.”
When asked about the prime minister's response, Ranga said: "The prime minister said she will look into the matter."
After leaving Ganabhaban, Raushan Ershad answered several questions from journalists.
Regarding participating in the election under the leadership of GM Quader, she said: "The chairman of the Jatiya Party did not treat us well. He is contesting the election in my son's place."
When asked whether they support the current leadership of the Jatiya Party, Raushan replied: "They have intentionally excluded us. Why should there be any support?"
Earlier on November 19, a Jatiya Party delegation led by Raushan Ershad paid a courtesy call on President Mohammed Sahabuddin at Bangabhaban.
After meeting with the president, Raushan said: “The Jatiya Party is an election-oriented party. We have already prepared to participate in the elections. We respect the Constitution. So we welcome the schedule announced by the Election Commission. However, a proposal has been made to the President to extend the election schedule.”
Despite all this, the Jatiya Party has announced participation in the 12th parliamentary election, excluding Raushan Ershad.
The chief patron did not collect the nomination form, and JaPa is on its way to the election without Raushan for the first time in 32 years.