The nomination-deprived mayoral aspirant of the ruling party in Raozan municipality might put AL in a tight spot while the internal dispute might appear as a boon for the BNP-nominated candidate in the municipality polls slated for December 30.
Despite contesting on AL ticket in the forthcoming municipal polls, Debshish Palit, the mayoral candidate in Raozan municipality has become somewhat ‘lonely’ as local senior leaders are not allegedly taking part in the electoral campaign in his favour.
Shafiqul Islam Chowdhury, president of Raozan upazila chapter of the AL failed to win party ticket for contesting the municipal race. However, Saiful Islam Chowdhury, son of Shafiqul Islam Chowdhury is contesting the polls as a ‘rebel’ candidate.
The voters observe that BNP-nominated mayoral candidate Kazi Abdullah Al Hassan might have an edge over his rivals since there are ‘two candidates’ from the ruling party.
“Though the local senior leaders are not electioneering in my favour, the grassroot leaders and activists are with me. I will win banking on the support and blessing of the grassroot leaders and activists and the local people,” said Debshish Palit, the mayoral candidate in Raozan municipality.
The party insiders said that an extended meeting of Raozan upazila chapter of the AL was held on November 13. During the meeting Shafiqul Islam Chowdhury was proposed for joining the fray. Local AL lawmaker Fazle Karim Chowdhury also attended the meeting. However, the central leadership chose former Raozan municipality mayor and AL north district unit organising secretary Debashis Palit for contesting the polls.
Saiful Islam who was also member of Raozan upazila AL collected nomination paper on December 1 for contesting the polls as a mayoral candidate. On the same day, vice president of Raozan upazila AL Anwarul Islam and member of Raozan municipality AL Swapan Kumar das Gupta also collected nomination papers but at last pulled them out of the race. However, it was Saiful Islam who stuck to his gun.
Saiful Islam Chowdhury is contesting in the upcoming poll as an independent candidate under the banner of “Nagorik Committee” with his symbol “Jug”.
Speculation is rife that Saiful Islam Chowdhury is backed by local AL lawmaker Fazle Karim Chowdhury.
Expressing his optimism to win in the polls, Saiful Islam claimed that the locals and party men were extending their support and cooperation to him.
“I am not a rebel candidate. Rather, I am an independent candidate. It is not the electoral symbol but the image of the candidate which matters most in the local body polls,” said the rebel candidate of the ruling party, adding that the person who was nominated from the ruling party to vie for the race was isolated from the people.
On the other hand, Debshish Palit, AL-nominated mayoral candidate said that it mattered little as the local senior leaders were not conducting electoral campaign in his favour.
“My party has chosen me considering my popularity in the locality. I am confident of winning the polls with a wide margin,” said Palit.
Shafiqul Islam Chowdhury said: “I have worked for the AL for the last 30 years. However, I have not been evaluated by my party. The voters in Raozan will never work for any isolated candidate.”
“Though my supporters have been barred from conducting electoral campaign, I am confident of winning the polls since there is a rebel candidate in the AL. I hope to reap benefit from the internal feud in the ruling party,” said Kazi Abdullah Al Hassan, BNP-nominated mayoral candidate in Raozan municipality.
This time a total of 449 mayor and councillor aspirants are vying the municipal polls slated for December 30. Of them, 34 are mayoral, 77 are in reserved seats for women and 338 are contesting as the general councillor candidates.
The 10 municipalities where the polls are going to be held are Sandwip, Banshkhali, Chandanaish, Satkania, Mirsarai, Patiya, Raozan, Rangunia, Baryarhat and Sitakunda.
