No scope to leave more than 7 seats for allies: Quader
There is no scope to leave more than seven seats for the allies, he also said
The Awami League will not leave more than seven seats in the upcoming Jatiya Sangsad polls for the member parties of the 14-Party Alliance, AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader said on Friday.
Besides, the ruling party will not guarantee the victory of any of its allies in the election, he said at a press briefing at AL president's political office at Dhanmondi in the capital in the afternoon, reports UNB.
"Everyone just talks about seat-sharing with different parties but this time the Awami League is giving political importance to its allies," Quader said, adding that talks are going on with Jatiya Party, reports BSS.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Quader said, "We cannot give anyone the guarantee of victory. I am the Awami League general secretary and I also have no guarantee of winning. I too have to fight with four people. If one of them wins, I have to accept it. There will be win or defeat here. There will be competition."
He said the Awami League's alliance partners have nothing to be satisfied or dissatisfied as everyone can choose their own symbol in the polls.
About Jatiya Party, Quader said Jatiya Party will contest in the elections with their own symbol but some candidates from the 14-party alliance will be given the "boat" symbol.
"The coordinator of the 14-party alliance has been informed of our decision. Let all of them vie the elections with their party symbols. We can give the "boat" symbol in seven constituencies," he said.
Terming the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) "a branch of the BNP", Quader said 28 parties are participating in the elections this time, while a few political parties, including the BNP, are not joining it.
"The TIB is now saying if the BNP does not participate in the elections, it will not be participatory. I want to know from TIB: What does a participatory election mean? The TIB and the BNP are speaking in the same tone," he said.
The AL general secretary said Bangladesh's polls will be a good instance this time as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has committed to hold such polls.
She has clearly said she will set a good example at home and abroad by holding the elections in a free and fair manner, he said.
