Lawmakers can take part in the campaign for local government elections except for soliciting votes, claims senior Awami League leader Tofail Ahmed.
“We MPs can hold meetings at offices or anyone’s residence in the electorate, it’s not prohibited. However, the Election Commission has made it clear that we can't solicit votes,” he said on Saturday (Jan 11) after a meeting between the chief election commissioner (CEC) and an Awami League delegation.
Tofail, who serves as the chief coordinator of the ruling party's panel for the Dhaka North city polls, led the party delegation of the meeting.
"MPs will not take part in street rallies and door-to-door campaigns. But given the responsibilities of the coordinators, we can hold indoor meetings. We will not participate in any election-related campaigns," he told the media.
The Election Commission has asked lawmakers to not solicit votes, the ruling MP from Bhola said before adding, "We will do everything except seeking votes."
His remarks come a day after an election commissioner expressed his concerns over the involvement of MPs in the campaign process for the voting to the Dhaka city polls slated for Jan 30.
In an unofficial note to CEC and the returning officers, Commissioner Mahbub Talukdar said on Thursday (Jan 9), “I have noticed that parliament members are taking part in the campaign ahead of Dhaka north and south city corporation elections which are concerning and is a clear violation of the 2016 electoral code of conduct.”
According to him, it will "hamper creation of a level playing field".
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