Quader: Decision on alliance nominations changed for strategic reason

The Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said the decision of publishing the list of grand alliance candidates has been changed for a strategic reason.

“Our party list of the candidates was not made for media. We just opened a door for the party candidates by giving letters to collect nomination papers from the Election Commission (EC). But there were many names published in the mass media which are not in the list,” he said.

Quader, also Road Transport and Bridges minister, came up with the comments at a press conference at the party president’s Dhanmondi political office on Monday.

AL Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, Office Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap and Science and Technology Affairs Engineer Md Abdus Sobur were present at the press conference, among others.

The candidates list of the grand alliance will be announced formally taking the overall situation into count after scrutinizing the nomination papers as per the election schedule, Quader said.

But it is embarrassing for the party as well as for candidates if any name is published in the mass media on the basis of hearsay, he added.

However, the list of grand alliance candidates for 300 parliamentary seats was scheduled to be declared today.

A total of 231 party nomination letters were handed out, Awami League general secretary said, adding that: “Nomination papers will be scrutinized by November 28. The list of grand alliance candidates, however, will be formally announced before withdrawal of the nomination papers.”

“We will do nothing beyond the party nomination letters. But alliance candidates will be considered if they are more acceptable than our candidates,” he said.

Mentioning that the Jatiya Oikya Front is hatching conspiracy to foil the election, Quader said they realized that they could not win the polls. “So, Dr Kamal suddenly wanted replacement of the chief election commissioner (CEC),” he added.

“It can be realized how sincere those areabout the election when theydemand the replacement of the CEC one month to the election,” Quader said.