The Awami League-led 14-party combine will hold a meeting today to finalise their endorsements for the candidates running for city corporation offices of Dhaka and Chittagong.
The meeting, previously scheduled for 11am, will start at 10am at the Awami League president’s Dhanmondi office, said a press release issued yesterday.
When asked, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim, also spokesperson for the 14-party alliance, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Prime Minister and alliance leader Sheikh Hasina has already finalised three mayoral candidates. The alliance also extended support for them.”
“Tomorrow [today] we will finalise the councillor candidates through discussions with our alliance partners,” he said.
BNP’s announcement to join the upcoming city polls has led the ruling 14-party alliance to shift to an alternative game plan and ensure just one candidate for all posts including those of mayors to prevent votes being split up amongst themselves.
The initial plan was to allow all candidates contest the polls if BNP had not joined. But now, since the scenario has changed, the Awami League is bent on ensuring that the ruling alliance votes stay with just one candidate, according to party insiders.
Awami League needs to see eye to eye with all parties within the alliance. Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal led by Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu has already floated its own mayoral candidate for Dhaka South.