Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad on Monday said his party would participate in the upcoming polls despite the absence of a level-playing field for all parties.
“There is no level-playing field for the coming election. There are debates over the Election Commission. However, we have to participate in the elections under its jurisdiction,” he said.
Talking to reporters at his Banani office, the former military ruler said there were controversies about the current Election Commission, “but there is no way out of an election without it.”
Ershad claimed that the popularity of the ruling Awami League had come down to zero and “no one will vote for them and the Jatiya Party is headed for elections to assess its popularity.”
He asserted that the upcoming national polls must be held under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in line with the constitution.
The Jatiya Party recently split from the Awami League-led coalition and announced its intention to participate in the elections independently. The move was made amid the uncertainty over main opposition BNP’s participation in the elections.
The BNP’s main concern has been the head of the polls-time cabinet and it has been saying polls under Hasina cannot be neutral.
Six members of the Jatiya Party were included in the cabinet that will oversee the upcoming national elections.
Meanwhile, through a press note on Monday the party extended nomination form sale for another day.
