Jatiya Party (JaPa) has witnessed a deepening leadership crisis over the past month ahead of the national polls scheduled for January 7.
JaPa Chairman GM Quader himself wants to run for the Rangpur-3 constituency, which is traditionally a stronghold for JaPa. With the deadline to submit nomination papers on November 30, the party's chief patron, Raushan Ershad, is backing her son Saad Ershad to run for the seat.
However, local party leaders and activists have taken a position in favour of not nominating Saad from the constituency under any circumstances. They assert that they will not accept anyone from the constituency other than GM Quader.
Party sources revealed that JaPa had requested the Awami League (AL) not to nominate any candidate for the three Rangpur constituencies. However, the ruling party nominated candidates for all six constituencies in Rangpur on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Mashiur Rahman Ranga, the former general secretary of JaPa, has decided to run for the seat as an independent candidate despite his close ties with Raushan Ershad.
On Saturday, the party chief patron requested the party nomination board to provide her with three nomination forms—one for herself, another for her son Saad Ershad, and the third for Dr KR Islam.
Party insiders suggest that the decision to exclude Ranga from the list of three candidates from Raushan’s side has compelled Ranga to run independently.
Insiders also revealed that JaPa had finalized its six candidates to run in Rangpur: GM Quader’s nephew Asif Shahriar from Rangpur-1, Anis Mandal from Rangpur-2, GM Quader from Rangpur-3, Selim Bengal from Rangpur-4, Anisur Rahman from Rangpur-5, and Nur Alom Jadu from Rangpur-6.
Meanwhile, GM Quader has already collected his nomination form from the Rangpur election office for the Rangpur-3 seat. District JaPa Joint Convener Ajmal Hossain Lebu confirmed the matter to the media on Saturday.
According to sources, Raushan is currently in negotiations with GM Quader regarding retaining Saad Ershad as the party candidate from Rangpur-3. The two leaders met at Raushan’s Gulshan residence on Saturday night, holding a meeting for an hour, according to party sources.
JaPa Co-chairman and Rangpur City Corporation Mayor Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa told Dhaka Tribune that local leaders of the party want to see GM Quader run for Rangpur-3. District JaPa General Secretary Abdur Razzak echoed Mostafizar over the issue.
Senior leaders of the party told this correspondent that GM Quader has chosen this constituency for himself as he is confident of winning here.
Sources further indicate that Raushan may secure an appointment with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to meet her this week amid the ongoing rift inside the party. GM Quader has also sought an appointment with the PM.
