Stay out of polls or face action

The ruling Awami League and its archrival BNP have adopted almost similar strategies to deal with their rebel candidates for mayoral posts in the upcoming municipal polls.

Senior leaders of both parties will try to convince their rebel candidates to quit the electoral race. If the rebels remain rigid on contesting the polls, the parties will expel them or take disciplinary actions, according to AL and BNP insiders.   

The two major parties have attached great importance to the December 30 election, as it will be a test of popularity for both.

The election to 235 municipalities will be the country's first local government polls on partisan lines.

Leaders of both parties think that rebel candidates may act as a barrier to the success of their party favourites.

AL insiders say the party has rebel candidates in 71 municipalities, while sources in the BNP claim it has rebels in 56 places.

The Daily Star yesterday contacted AL and BNP leaders in around 200 municipalities, and found that the ruling party has 116 rebel candidates in those while the BNP has 54.

"We hope to convince them to quit the race within the date of nomination withdrawal," said AL central leader Abdur Razzaque, also a member of AL nomination board for municipal elections.

"We will try to make them understand that if we cannot ensure win for our candidates in most of the municipalities, the BNP-led alliance may again unleash violence and carry out subversive activities in the name of anti-government movement," the former food minister told The Daily Star.

If any rebel refuses to comply with party instructions, the party will have no other choice but to expel him, he said.

Victory for party-nominated candidates is vital for invigorating grassroots activists and proving the ruling party's popularity, added Razzaque.

AL Organising Secretary Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury echoed his words.

The party high command's message would be conveyed to the rebel candidates, asking them to withdraw nomination papers and work for party-endorsed candidates, said Khalid.

"If anyone does not abide by the instructions, disciplinary actions will be taken against them," he added.

AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif hoped the party would be able to sort out the issue of rebel candidates by December 13, the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers.

He was speaking at a press conference at the party chief's Dhanmondi office yesterday.

BNP insiders said the party would maintain a "go-slow strategy" until December 6, the last day for scrutiny of nomination papers, and move swiftly to settle the issue of its rebel candidates after the scrutiny.

"We fear returning officers may cancel the nominations of some of our party candidates over silly mistakes during the December 5-6 scrutiny. In that case, we will have to extend party support to alternative candidates," said BNP Assistant Publicity Secretary Emran Saleh Prince, who is involved in the selection of the party's mayoral candidates.

Seeking anonymity, a senior BNP leader said the party has kept some "dummy candidates" in some places as part of its electoral strategy.

Upon completion of the security, party's senior leaders, including acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, will call the rebel candidates and send letters to convince them to withdraw candidature.

They will try to make the rebels understand that victory for the party-backed mayor aspirants is crucial for the BNP's existence and popularity, said the leader, adding that if any rebel does not pay heed to it, he will face disciplinary actions.