Ivy likely to get AL’s ticket in N’ganj city poll

Local sources said the doctor turned politician had already gained confidence from party’s high-ups because of her development works and popularity in the city and she had been upgraded as deputy minister. Insiders of the Awami League said party chief might choose Ivy for contesting in the election, as the government had given Tk191 crore special allocation for city development which was a proof that Awami League decision makers had soft corners for Ivy. In the previous city corporation election held on October 30, 2011, six candidates took part in the poll where Selina Hayat Ivy defeated Awami League-nominated candidate Shamim Osman by over 100,000 votes. BNP-nominated candidate Taimur Alam Khandakar withdrew himself from that election just seven hours before of the poll. According to the Election Commission, the commission will announce schedule of the election by the end of the month or first week of November. The election of Narayanganj City Corporation have to be held by December 27. Local sources said the incumbent mayor of the city corporation Dr Selina Hayat Ivy, Awami League city unit President Anwar Hossain, district unit BNP President Taimur Alam Khandakar, former MP Abul Kalam, Biplobi Workers’ Party leader Advocate Mahbubur Rahman Ismail may contest in the upcoming city election. Shamim Osman, also an influential component in Narayanganj politics, has recently said he would support Anwar Hossain in the election, though Anwar worked for Ivy in the previous city election. There is also a speculation that Anwar Hossain may contest in the election from Jatiya Party (JaPa)’s ticket if he does not get ticket from Awami League, because Osman family will try to create obstacle for Ivy at any cost. Anwar Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune that he was expecting that he would get nomination from Awami League. “I am a dedicated leader of the party. I hope that the party will give me nomination in the upcoming city election, as party activists want me in the position.” Selina Hayat Ivy, however, keeps mum over the party’s selection. She said: “I want to finish development work first. Now, I am not thinking about the election. If I do my job sincerely, people of the district will evaluate my work. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the owner of boat (symbol of the Awami League). She will choose who will be the boatman.” BNP sources said two leaders – Taimur Alam Khandakar and Abul Kalam – would seek nomination from the party. Taimur said: “I want to know why I was stopped in the previous election despite having over 100,000 votes. “Party chief will select candidate. I do not want to take part in the election.” But party source, however, said Taimur had already started taking preparation for the election. “Both of them are now observing the situation. They do not want to approach themselves to the Chairperson Khaleda Zia because they do not want to take blame of defeat on their shoulders,” said the source who preferred to be unnamed. Leader of the Biplobi Workers’ Party Advocate Mahbubur Rahman Ismail has already started taking preparation for the election. Posters and festoons have been pasted in the city walls. Ismail said: “I want to take part in the election because I want to develop the city as a modern city.”