A large number of aspirants, and mushrooming internal conflicts among nomination-seekers, has made it difficult for the ruling Awami League to nominate candidates for the upcoming general election.
There are at least 6-10 nomination-seekers in almost every constituency, who are trying hard to impress the party, Awami League leaders say. The number is higher in some constituencies.
It has emerged that too many candidates are vying for the nominations of a single constituency, which has led to divisions among the party’s local units.
Party leaders find that internal conflicts are the party’s biggest challenge to it cinching a third consecutive term in office. This could empower its opponents, particularly the BNP-led alliance.
Senior Awami League leaders have taken initiatives to resolve the issues, but efforts to forge unity and ensure discipline have thus far failed to yield satisfactory results.
They say although the party high command has already made a list of possible candidates, it is yet to finalize the list.
One of the reasons for the increase in the number of candidates is that Awami League has been in power for the last 10 years, party insiders say.
Several senior leaders of the party have told the Dhaka Tribune that the party is worried about internal conflicts.
They say there is serious infighting in: Chittagong, Khagrachhari, Khulna, Rajshahi, Natore, Bandarban, Narsingdi, Comilla, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Brahmanbaria, Noagaon, Barisal city, Bhola, Pirojpur, Moulvibazar, Shariatpur, and Sunamganj.
An Awami League presidium member, declining to be named, has told the Dhaka Tribune that picking the right candidates is a “very difficult task” for the party due to internal feuds.
He said senior and prominent district-level leaders have created factions to fulfil their interests. “There are chances that we will lose seats if the party picks these divisive leaders because it is likely that their supporters will vote against them,” the leader said.
Sources say Awami League’s high command is aware of the bickering at the grassroots and district levels and is trying hard to resolve these issues quickly. However, major conflicts involving district leaders and lawmakers often present an intractable problem.
Awami League has recently tasked several central leaders with resolving conflicts before the party heads to the next polls.
Presidium Member Abdur Razzaque has said the party plans to nominate candidates earlier to resolve these conflicts. He declined to comment on why candidates have not yet been nominated.
Joint General Secretary Abdur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that the party’s top leaders have already talked with various district leaders.
“At least 80% of the conflicts will be resolved automatically after candidate selection,” he claimed without elaborating.
Rahman claims the high number of candidates is a “very positive” sign which will, “help us find the most suitable candidates.”
Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, an organizing secretary of the party’s Central Working Committee, says 4,000 people had sought nominations in the last election, and this time the number will be more than 10,000.
“Awami League has overcome harder times before. We will select the most suitable candidates and after that all the issues will be resolved,” he added.
