The ruling Awami League has still not finalised the list of single candidates for each of the wards in the two city corporations in Dhaka for the upcoming polls.
Several ward-level leaders have claimed to have sent single-candidate recommendations from their respective areas to the party’s central high command. But central leaders said the list of lone candidates to get official party backing was not final as of last evening.
On an average, more than five Awami League leaders have filed nomination papers from each of the wards under Dhaka North and South City Corporations.
There are allegations that without taking consent from peers, a number of presidents and secretaries of the party’s ward-level units have sent their names as the lone candidate from their areas.
According to sources, the party is looking to narrow down to the locally popular candidates with the cleanest of images. Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh has also reportedly collected intelligence on the local candidates.
Meanwhile, the ruling party starts electioneering for the polls today in Dhaka and Chittagong. Two committees, comprising around a hundred parliamentarians, have been formed and tasked with organising the campaigns in the two cities.
The lawmakers however have been asked to maintain passive presence in the campaigns so as to avoid violating the electoral code of conduct.