The ruling Awami League has already spilled heat over the selection of its candidate for the Barisal-5 constituency ahead of the national polls scheduled for January 7.
The party-nominated candidate for the seat is Zaheed Farooque, state minister for water resources, who is also the vice president of district AL.
But Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah, general secretary Barisal Metropolitan AL and former city mayor, collected nomination papers as an independent candidate for the seat.
Sadiq is the eldest son of Abul Hasanat Abdullah, who is the president of Barisal district AL and the AL candidate for the Barisal-1 constituency.
Sadiq had sought the party’s nomination but was denied.
With a number of allegations against him, Sadiq Abdullah was also denied the party ticket in the Barisal city polls earlier this year.
Another influential leader of the ruling AL, Salahuddin Ripon, also collected nomination papers as an independent candidate for Barisal-5.
The Barisal-5 constituency is considered to be a stronghold of BNP, which has won the seat in every participatory election since 1979 until 2014 when the party boycotted the polls.
Despite the party nomination for Zaheed Farooque, many top leaders and activists of the party were seen taking sides in favour of Sadiq Abdullah ahead of the polls.
Several leaders of the party including Metropolitan AL Vice President Gazi Naemul Hossain Litu, Industry and Commerce Affairs Secretary Nirob Hossain Tutul, members SM Zakir Hossain, Rafiqul Islam Khokon were present at the Election Commission office during the collection of nomination paper for Sadiq Abdullah.
On other hand, city AL Vice President Advocate KBS Ahmed Kabir and Barisal City AL Convener Shahjahan Howladar, among others, was present during collection and submission of nomination paper for Zaheed Farooque.
Responding to a question, Metropolitan AL Vice President Gazi Naemul Hossain told reporters that their support for the former city mayor in the upcoming polls will not have any effect on the votes for Boat candidate in the upcoming polls.
City AL President Advocate AKM Jahangir during a speech at a rally told the gathering that the leaders and activists will not let others taste the fruit of trees planted by them.
At the same rally, Barisal Chhatra League General Secretary Abdur Razzak said that Serniabat Sadiq Abdullah has kept Barisal AL ahead during tough times. He will be elected from Barisal-5 by the voters on January 7.
Speaking at the rally, Gazi Naemul Hossain said that there is only one leader in Barisal and that is Sadiq Abdullah.
