Jatiya Party (JP) has decided not to participate in the next parliamentary elections without seat compromise with the ruling Awami League (AL) as most of the leaders of the party don’t want to vie against AL and its rebel candidates.

Party insiders said JP co-chairmen, presidium members and current lawmakers don’t want to fight against the boat and AL dummy candidates. They said if AL makes a consensus with them about constituency distribution, they will participate in the polls, otherwise not. 

“A meeting of the JP co-chairmen was recently held at the residence of senior co-chairman Anisul Islam Mahmud. In the meeting, a decision was taken to participate in the polls after seat consensus with the Awami League. If AL doesn’t respond positively, most of the co-chairmen opined that they would boycott the elections. Discussion is going on with the AL in this issue,” he said.  

Out of the three elections after 2008, the Jatiya Party participated in the 9th and 11th parliamentary elections under the grand alliance led by Awami League. In the 10th national elections in 2014, AL and JP made a seat compromise. The Awami League didn’t fight in 34 constituencies for the Jatiya Party. All 34 candidates of JP won these seats. Jaitya Party chief patron Raushan Ershad played an important role in that seat consensus. But this time, JP has given nominations to its single candidates in 287 constituencies.   

Several co-chairmen and presidium members said although they were vocal against the government throughout the year, JP finally announced participation in the 12th national elections under the ruling Awami League. For this reason, forming a grand alliance and seat consensus has not become possible. The JP is taking part in the polls as the government has assured them of a fair election and seat distribution. But the party’s high-ups are worried as the matter remains unsolved yet.

Jatiya Party policymakers want a final result in this regard by December 10. Although they want 50 seats from the Awami League, JP, however, will be happy to get 35 seats. They said party candidates are not in a comfort zone despite the announcement of their participation in the elections. The situation has worsened as the AL has fielded candidates in all 300 seats and permitted rebel candidates also. They think JP candidates won’t win in the voting fight against the AL and its rebel candidates. In this situation, JP might fall into a big debacle. For this reason, some JP candidates didn’t submit nomination forms despite having party nominations.    

A JP candidate, who has submitted his nomination paper from a Dhaka constituency, alleged that his opponent AL candidate has already started threatening him. He also fears the upcoming situation.

At present, a total of 23 parliamentarians are representing the JP in the House. Of the 23 lawmakers, 19 are the pro-GM Quader. Opposition leader Raushan Ershad, her follower Saad Ershad, opposition chief whip Mashiur Rahman Ranga and Rustum Ali Faraji were not given party nominations. For this reason, Raushan Ershad along with other leaders announced the boycott of the polls.  

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said, “This is the high time for the Jatiya Party to prove itself as a real opposition party. We welcome them if they vie independently. We have not got the list of the seats to leave for JP. However, discussion might happen about the seat distribution with the Jatiya Party.” 

Several senior leaders of JP said the anxiety among the pro-GM Quader group is increasing over seat distribution with the AL. They think all JP candidates including heavyweights might lose all 23 seats if they vie in the election without a compromise with the Awami League.                     

They also said if the AL doesn’t come forward about seat consensus, JP candidates won’t compete against the AL and independent candidates for organizational weakness and less financial capacity. In this case, JP will have to accept a big political loss. The JP might announce the poll boycott on the last date of the withdrawal of the candidacy. However, the JP leaders expect that the AL will make a compromise within a short time and both parties will withdraw candidature from the compromised seats. Jatiya Party candidates will take part in the compromised constituencies. However, all candidates will vie in the election with the party symbol plough.     

Jatiya Party sources said leaders of the party are now waiting for the seat distribution with Awami League. The deadline for the withdrawal of candidature for the next polls is December 17.

@ The article was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on December 5, 2023 and has been rewritten in English by Golam Rosul.