In the absence of full effort/support from the Awami League, Jatiya Party (JaPa) Co-Chairperson Raushan Ershad, who is also the leader of the opposition in parliament, seems to be struggling in retaining her constituency, Mymensingh 4, which she won uncontested in the last general polls.
As of Saturday, leaders and activists of the ruling party seemed absent from Raushan’s campaign against BNP candidate Abu Ohab Akanda Wahid, general secretary of the party’s Mymensingh district unit.
Visiting the constituency – comprising the Mymensingh municipality and 13 union parishads – on Friday and Saturday, this correspondent found the BNP candidate’s campaign more visible that Raushan’s, who is contesting the polls from the Awami League-led Grand Alliance.
This seat is significant as whichever party or alliance wins it, forms the government.
The JaPa and BNP candidates are the heavyweights in the constituency this election. Both the parties are following the traditional ways of electioneering: setting up roadside makeshift offices, bringing out processions, hanging posters at important points, using loudspeakers, and reaching out to voters.
The environment is peaceful in Mymensingh so far, without any reports of violence since the beginning of electioneering – a scenario in contrast to what is happening in the rest of the country.
However, some local BNP leaders and activists alleged that there have been attempts to hinder Wahid’s campaign.
Locals seem satisfied with the situation, saying the scenario would have been different, had the contest been between the BNP and Awami League.
“I don’t care who wins or loses (in the election). All I want is peace,” said Abul Kalam, a rickshaw puller – a sentiment echoed by many others.
When asked, many of the locals did not want to reveal who they would vote for, but some locals said they thought BNP has the better chance of winning the seat, based on the current vibes of the BNP and JaPa campaigns.
Why is Awami League absent?
Since the ruling party does not have a candidate in Mymensingh 4, its leaders and workers are not willing to put any effort into Raushan’s campaign, according to both JaPa and Awami League leaders in the area.
These leaders also acknowledged that the BNP is organizationally much stronger than JaPa in the constituency.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, several Awami League leaders said they are using their resources to campaign for their own candidates elsewhere in the district, but would be present in the constituency to lend support to Raushan on election day.
Although showing a united front in public, in private, the JaPa leaders are unhappy with Awami League’s absence in Raushan’s campaign.
JaPa’s Mymensingh unit President Ashraf Uddin Ahmed Dolon said: “They [the Awami League] are giving 75% effort in our campaign. Things will be better in the coming days.”
When contacted, the ruling party’s Mymensingh unit President Jahirul Haque Khoka said: “It is true that we have yet to put in our 100% effort for our alliance partner, but it is not without reason. JaPa has not coordinated with us about the campaign. We have some shortage of funds too.”
During this correspondent’s visit to Mymensingh, Raushan was staying at the Mymensingh Circuit House. Despite repeated attempts, she did not agree to speak with the Dhaka Tribune.
Meanwhile, when contacted, the BNP candidate Wahid expressed confidence about his campaign.
“Our party is united, and the campaign is in full swing, despite some obstructions from the Awami League,” he said, “If people are able to vote, we will certainly win.”
