Election heat is felt in all spheres of Rangamati. In the tenth national parliamentary elections, AL candidate and former state minister for Chattogram hill tracts affairs, Dipankar Talukder, lost to Santu Larma’s JSS candidate, Ushaton Talukder.

But AL is determined to win back the seat this time. It’s believed that BNP will also give several candidates this year while AL may give backing to Dipankar.

Possible BNP candidates include; advocate Dipen Dewan, Col (retd) Manish Dewan and district BNP president Haji Md. Shah Alam.

Meanwhile, regional parties have started to take control of areas over the upcoming elections, which has often resulted in killings and murders.

According to Election Commission, the total votes in this district is 4 lakh 17 thousand 359. Of the 205 centres, 70 are in remote areas. Last time, AL complained that in these areas, JSS rigged votes in around 50 centres. AL party members have called for the recovery of illegal weapons in the area.

However, the local organisations are not paying any attention to the ruling party; also as part of a strategy, the opposing sides, JSS and UPDF have united.

District AL president, Dipankar Talukder, says: “in the tenth parliamentary elections, JSS resorted to armed threat to cast fifty per cent votes and the people did not get any development from them.”

While notable improvements in the area have been done by AL, he added.

BNP president, Haji Md. Shah Alam, says: “BNP is ready to take part in the next election and the party will put wholehearted support behind the candidate nominated by the high command.”

“Our party has not decided the candidate as yet; decision will be taken after declaration of the schedule,” said JSS supported independent candidate Ushaton Talukder.