Awami League to encourage 'independents' for 'participatory' polls

The Awami League has decided to encourage independents, currently being called by the party as "dummy candidates", in the upcoming national election to make the polls festive, competitive, and increase voter turnout.

In past elections, the AL took action against the "rebels", essentially those AL leaders running as independents against the party nominated candidates. However, the new decision allows any party member to run independently.

Several Awami League MPs, denied nominations this time, have declared their intent to contest as independents. Also, many others, who were denied party tickets, have announced their independent candidacy.

A section of them even initiated campaigns and collected nomination forms from local returning offices.

Besides, some state agencies are compiling lists of potential independent candidates in various districts, prioritising locally popular individuals with the ability to attract voters on polling day, sources said.

They said individuals from the families of AL leaders but not directly involved in party politics will be prioritised as independent candidates.

AL President  and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, during a meeting with aspirants on Sunday, announced that "dummy candidates" from the party can be included in constituencies where there is no opposition candidate.

However, the party chief also announced that action would be taken against anyone elected without a contest.

Referring to Sheikh Hasina's instruction, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday said it is a "strategic decision".

"Awami League is moving forward, changing strategy as per the need of the hour. There is no bar to dummy candidates following the guideline of the party chief," he said.

The 12th National Parliament Election is scheduled for January 7 amidst a political crisis as various opposition parties, including the BNP, have declared a boycott, demanding a neutral caretaker government during the polls.

Meanwhile, the AL announced candidates for 298 out of 300 seats on Sunday, but no final decision has been taken regarding the seat-sharing among the components of the 14-party alliance led  by the ruling party.

Regarding allied parties, AL Joint General Secretary and Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Monday said there will be coordination with the alliance. Since it has not yet been decided how it will be done, nominations have been given in almost all seats.

"Later, necessary measures will be taken in coordination with the alliance. We will conduct elections under a 14-party alliance. Besides, if there is coordination with others, that will also be done," said Hasan Mahmud.

Some sources said the party is gearing up to run for 200 seats, aiming for victory in 170-180 seats to secure government formation.

For the remaining seats, proposals for individual or other party leaders are being considered to make the election more competitive and fruitful, they said.

Latest independents

Among the 16 constituencies of Chattogram, nine candidates who have already been denied AL nomination have announced to run as independents.

In Dhaka-19 (Savar-Ashulia), former Awami League member Talukdar Mohammad Towhid Jung Murad and General Secretary of Ashulia Thana Awami League Mohammad Saiful Islam announced their run as independents.

In Sylhet division, current MPs Moazzem Hossain Ratan, Sayedul Haque Chowdhury Sumon, and members of Sylhet district Awami League and founder president of Canada Awami League Sarwar Hossain have announced to contest as independents.

Besides, in Sylhet-1, the constituency of Foreign Minister Abul Momen, the AL former organisational secretary Misbah Uddin Siraj collected nomination papers on Monday.