MP aspirants jostle for party tickets

PABNA, Dec 20 (UNB): Though the general election is still over a year away, the election euphoria is already visible in Pabana-4 constituency with the hectic campaign by nomination seekers of the major parties to woo their party high-ups for party tickets.

Many areas of Atgharia and Ishwardi upazilas under the constituency are replete with posters, billboards and banners of nomination seekers of Awami League, BNP and other parties.

The aspiring candidates vying for nominations and their supporters have hit the campaign trail by conducting mass contact and distributing leaflets to manifest their popularity alongside keeping in close touch with their party high-ups to ensure their nomination.

They have also become active in social and organisational activities.

As the battle to get party ticket among their probable candidates is getting fierce, the top district leaders of Awami League and BNP have also intensified their efforts to contain intra-party conflicts and strengthen their parties' organisational capacity.

They are holding views-exchange meetings, discussions and various programmes with grassroots leaders and activists to make them united and motivated for working for the candidates who will bag their respective party tickets.

The constituency is known as a stronghold of Awami League as its leader and current Land Minister Shamsur Rahman Sherif was elected MP for four consecutive times since 1996 while BNP leader Sirajul Islam Sardar became MP only once in 1991.

Apart from the land minister, a number of Awami League leaders, including ex-MP Panjab Ali Biswas, central Swechchhasebak leader Rafiqul Islam Liton, Supreme Court lawyer Rabiul Alam Budu, have started mass contact and various social works for getting party nomination.

BNP insiders said as there is a strong rivalry between Sairjul and Habib, the party high-ups may pick Sanju as its candidate for the constituency in the next polls.