The aspiring candidates of Awami League (AL) and BNP have started their campaign sensing the probability of holding Rajshahi City Corporation [RCC] polls in July.

The election schedule for RCC polls is yet to be announced but, the Election Commission (EC) is considering holding the polls in July, along with Sylhet and Barishal city corporation polls.

Claiming that he has got the green signal from the party, former mayor and Rajshahi AL president AHM Khairuzzaman Liton has openly started his campaign by hanging posters, banners and festoons across the metropolitan city.

The current mayor of Rajshahi and probable BNP candidate Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul has also started public communication, seeking votes from the city residents and attending different programmes, although he is yet to publish posters.

Khairuzzaman Liton carried out Tk 850 crores development work during his four and half years tenure but, was defeated to Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul 2013 RCC election.

The government suspended Bulbul in 2015 but he got back the mayoral post last year following a High Court verdict. Since then he became busy over holding his post and that is why he is not being able to seek votes directly.

Party sources said a portion of city BNP wants former mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu for the mayoral post. But Minu himself is not willing; rather he wants to vie for the next parliament.

Contacted in this regard, Liton said, “During the last election Hefazat-e-Islam campaigned from door to door against me. AL leaders and activists were also inactive. They thought that I had carried out so much development works that I would be elected easily. But after my defeat, the voters realised that they had made a mistake.”

Highlighting his development works, he also said the present mayor has not been able to do anything. To keep the development of Rajshahi ongoing, I must be availed another opportunity.

On the other hand, sitting mayor Mosaddek said, “I was put in jail for a long time after I was elected. Even then, I have carried out huge development works.”

He also said, “My older brother Liton is speaking about changing Rajshahi, but actually he is referring to the change he brought to the wealth of AL leaders and activists in the name of development.”