A good number of grassroots leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) are still participating in the Upazila Parishad polls, thumbing their nose at the party’s top brass.
The BNP has already expelled the aspirants for ignoring the party decision, but its action fails to stop them from contesting the elections.
Some of the expelled leaders rather have raised voice against the decision taken by the top brass, saying that election boycott would put the party into a deep crisis.
What is the outcome of doing politics with such a party which always boycotts the election, they questioned.
As the ruling Awami League wants the UZ polls to be held in a participatory manner, it has taken a policy not to field any candidate with Boat symbol.
On the other hand, AL policy has been able to draw a large number of BNP men in the race.
The BNP has so far expelled some 79 grassroots leaders for participating in the sixth edition of the staggered UZ polls beginning on May 8.
The expelled BNP leaders say that if the party continues boycotting the elections, it will be tough for them to do politics.
They also claim that the central leaders are ignorant about the prevailing situation in the grassroots.
Many aspirants say that they are participating in the polls as independent candidates to go by the will of the people, the ultimate source of power.
BNP grassroots leaders say that many of them were elected in the past. That’s why they do not want to quit the field.
Against the stand of the aspirants, BNP insiders say that they smell a rat as those aspirants have somehow been managed by the ruling camp.
BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas on Saturday termed the UZ polls a trap, orchestrated by the ruling Awami League.
“The decision of the party is perfectly all right,” he said while addressing a rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club.
About the BNP’s decision on the UZ election boycott, he said, “It is another trap. A similar trap was designed before the national election to bring BNP into polls. But the BNP boycotted that election.”
The first phase elections to 150 upazilas are scheduled to be held on May 8. The BNP men are vying for the post of chairman in 28 UZs while 61 are vying for other posts, including that of the vice chairman.
Ganendra Chandra Sarker, who was elected chairman of Shalla Upazila in the past, remained in the poll race as an independent candidate as the BNP boycotts the polls.
Ganendra was the president of the upazila unit of the BNP. After being
expelled from the party, he did not give up, rather he started criticising the central leaders while running campaigns.
“It is about 50 years of my political career. The central leaders do not have any relations with the grassroots. They are destroying the party. I do not go by such a mockery. I must vie the race,” he said.
Sarder Afzal Hossain, who is contesting for the post of chairman of Naldanga upazila, said what benefit it will bring for me staying with the party.
“How do we remain in the field of politics if the party boycotts the election?” he added.
