Dhaka South Mayor Sayeed Khokon has declined to comment after the Awami League dropped him from the mayoral race.
On Sunday, the ruling party nominated Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, as its candidate for the polls slated for January 30, and he has stepped down as the lawmaker for Dhaka 10 after the announcement.
Sayeed, who faced criticism for an outbreak of mosquito-borne disease dengue fever, has confined himself inside his residence following the announcement, according to people close to him.
Sayeed declined to comment, when he was asked whether he would contest as an independent aspirant after being left out of the race.
"A lot of things happen in politics. I have no comments on the election," an apparently disappointed Dhaka South mayor said.
Three days ago, when Sayeed collected the nomination form of the party, he was in tears seeking blessings from people of all strata.
"I am going through a very hard time now in my political career. So, I am seeking blessings from Dhakaities in this hard time,” The DSCC mayor said.
Sayeed describing party chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as his guardian in the absence of his father, said: "My leader will do whatever she considers good for me."
According to sources in the ruling party, the nomination slipped from Sayeed hand due to his controversial remarks, failure to eradicate mosquitoes, and not being able to fulfil the pledges made to the citizens.
However, the DSCC mayor claimed that he has never been lax in his duties as mayor.
Sayeed, who got the time to serve an entire term, made headlines when he termed the dengue statistics as rumours.
Sayeed is the son of late Dhaka mayor Mohammad Hanif who was also the chief of the party’s Dhaka metro unit.
He joined the Dhaka metro unit in 1999, was appointed the organizing secretary in 2004, and went on to become the unit’s vice president.
He defeated BNP's Mirza Abbas during the mayoral polls of 2015.
