With the political parties increasingly throwing their weight behind mayoral candidates, the Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) election is poised to be a free-for-all, with no sure winner in sight.
Though the election is “non-partisan” in principle and official statements, in reality, it has become every bit as partisan and competitive as any national election.
Both the ruling Awami League and the opposition BNP have already endorsed their chosen candidates, and embarked on fierce campaign strategies geared towards the polls to be held on July 6.
Political analysts say there is no way for Awami League to go soft on the GCC election, which has boiled down to a “battle of prestige” for the party following its humiliating defeats in the other four city corporation polls.
With just six days left, candidates are going door to door to entice voters with lavish pledges of development and assurances of resolving their problems and improving civic amenities.
Already, several central leaders of the two major parties visited the city to strengthen the support base of their candidates, and the number of “political visitors” will likely increase in the coming days.
Azmat Ullah, the ruling party-backed candidate, said: “I got support from Awami League which has become involved with my election campaign. No electoral law was breached in the process.”
MA Mannan, the main opposition-backed candidate, also spoke in the same vein: “We did not violate any rule pertaining to the election. BNP leaders are working within the purview of the related laws.”
The returning officer of GCC, Md Matiar Rahman, said that so far the candidates have been quite law-abiding, with no specific allegation of infringement brought against any of them. “But if anyone is found breaching any law, such as campaigning under political banners, the EC would cancel their candidacy.”
However, there are mixed reactions among voters about the fate of the election. While some said local issues would play an important role, others underscored pressing national issues that dominated the recent city polls.
Sirajur Islam, a resident of Jaydebpur, said the GCC polls have turned into a battle for the political parties before the next general elections.
Shahjahan Ali, who lives in Tongi, said local matters such as development work, civic issues and candidates’ past records may influence the result of the polls.
Mahbubul Alam, who resides in Shibbari, is of the opinion that both national and local issues will play equal roles. “The people of Gazipur would cast their votes in favour of whoever they think will work for them and serve their interests.”
However, with the rebel Awami League candidate Jahangir Alam back to the camp, the equation may seem to have changed somewhat in favour of Awami League. But there is no telling how his staunch supports will react once the voting begins.