BNP has adopted a new strategy to deal with possible rebel candidates, said party leaders who sit on its nomination board. They said that the party has decided to give primary nomination to all the candidates who face interview.

BNP interviewed 158 aspirants from Rangpur and 368 from Rajshahi on Sunday (Nov 18), the first day of interviewing aspiring candidates seeking to contest the upcoming polls.

All these 526 aspirants were handed a primary nomination letter signed by the party’s General Secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

According to the Representation of People Order (RPC), parties can file nomination form of more than one candidate in a seat. However, they have to inform who gets the final nomination which will cancel other applicants’ candidacy automatically.

BNP leaders are saying, “Whoever the party will finally nominate will be the official party candidate in a given seat. Candidacy of others’ will automatically be void and there won’t be any time to file nomination seeking independent candidacy as there is a deadline.”

“All the candidates have been instructed to file their nominations together,” they added.

According to the polls schedule, deadline for filing polls nomination in Nov 28. Scrutiny of nominations papers to be finished on Dec 2 while last day to withdraw candidacy is Dec 9 with the voting day slated on Dec 30.

“BNP will announce their final pick one or two days before the deadline of candidacy withdrawal so that no rebel candidates can file nominations,” a standing committee member of the party said on condition of anonymity.  

Two BNP standing committee members said that the party decided to give primary nominations to all aspirants for three reasons. First, eliminate the possibility for anyone to become a rebel candidate. Second, the Election Commission will cancel candidacy of many on grounds of loan defaults and the party will have options to pick an alternative candidate in that case. Third, all the aspirants will actively campaign for the party hoping to get the nomination, which in effect will bolster the organizational strength of the party in a grassroots level.

BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Committe Member refused to comment on the matter when contacted.