Despite AL candidate suffering a massive defeat in the Rangpur City Corporation (RCC) polls held on Thursday, Awami League finds it won on three distinctive aspects. The three issues are– BNP’s allegation of unfair and biased election under a partisan government being proven wrong, maintaining the credibility of the Election Commission and continuing warm relationship with Awami League’s political ally Jatiya Party (JP).
Several Awami League policymakers feel that their gains on the three issues will greatly help the party in the political arena in the future. According to them, the defeat of their candidate in the RCC polls will not impact the next general elections. Hence, they are not bothering to take the defeat into account right now.
The ruling party leaders said that Awami League wanted to restore the culture of an inclusive election in the country through ensuring the participation of all registered political parties. And following the Comilla and Rangpur city polls, the Awami League has managed to do just that. And, this is why the party is terming its defeat in the RCC election a “victory”. It is also considering the election a positive sign for democracy. Initially, the ruling party leaders held internal disputes responsible for the defeat. Rangpur being a stronghold of JP is the second reason for the polls upset, they added.
When contacted, Awami League Presidium Member Kazi Zafarullah said, “Those reasons caused the defeat of our candidate. The intra-party conflict might be behind it (defeat) as well.” “The RCC election was a local government election. Many issues, expectations and achievements take centre stage in such polls,” he further added.
Faruk Khan, another presidium member of the party, told this correspondent that he was happy despite their candidate’s defeat. “We want to reinstate the trend of free, fair and neutral polls in Bangladesh, and the RCC polls succeeded in that. Though the Awami League-endorsed candidate was defeated, we think we have won as every party participated in the polls,” he said. Faruk Khan added that the BNP’s allegations of the impossibility of organising a free, fair and impartial election under a partisan government have been proven wrong.
Addressing the huge margin of votes between the JP and the Awami League candidates, he said, “BNP activists and leaders cast their ballots for Mostafa as they sensed certain defeat of their candidate. “The reason for this defeat (of the Awami League candidate) needs to be scrutinised. The possibility of a factional feud should also be probed.”
Commenting on the matter, Awami League Joint General Secretary Abdur Rahman said: “Jhantu served as the RCC mayor in the previous term. The issue of anti-incumbency by the Rangpur city dwellers also played an important role in the election result, as he vied for the mayoral post again.” He added, “Local government polls embody various issues. So, the results of the RCC polls will not impact the national elections.”