JP still in grand alliance, LDP quits
Friday, 12 December 2008
Hours after Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad announced Thursday morning that the 'grand alliance' had not split, a senior JP leader said they had reached a seat-sharing deal with Awami League that leads the combine - as the deadline for withdrawal of candidacy drew near, reports bdnews24.com.
Meanwhile, Liberal Democratic Party led by Oli ahmed Thursday declared that it would contest the upcoming polls on its own and not as a partner of any alliance.
JP presidium member Golam Masih said that the deal over candidacy had been finalised, putting apparently to rest the political soap opera played out since an angry Ershad on Wednesday said his party was parting ways with the AL-led alliance.
HT Imam, co-chairman of the AL's election organising committee, confirmed the agreement.
"We have already prepared withdrawal papers for our candidates," said Imam.
"Now JP has to bring papers of the nominations which they are willing to withdraw."
Earlier, Anisul Islam Mahmud, acting chairman of JP, said that the JP had submitted nominations for 280 seats."
On Thursday morning, in a stunning reversal 15 hours after furiously announcing a break with AL-led alliance, Ershad had said the 'grand alliance' was very much there, at least until 5pm. "The 'grand alliance' is still intact.
"I have always talked about the 'grand alliance' in and outside the country and for this I was ridiculed by several leaders of Awami League. But I tolerated such humiliating remarks," the former military strongman said.
"A written agreement promised us 60 seats and that came down to 50, then 47 and now we hear that Jatiya Party will be given 40 seats."
An angry JP chief told reporters on Wednesday evening after a meeting of his party presidium, "Even if they (AL) offer us 70 seats or 100 seats, there's no going back,"
Later that day, after a meeting of the party's policymaking presidium, secretary general ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader at a media briefing in presence of senior party members had declared that Jatiya Party was leaving the alliance.
Liberal Democratic Party on Thursday declared that it would contest the upcoming polls on its own and not as a partner of any alliance.
LDP president retired colonel Oli Ahmed said at a media conference on Thursday "We have decided to run the election independently, fielding only the eligible and worthy candidates, and withdrawing the rest candidatures,"
Oli called upon people to cast their votes for candidates running the polls under 'umbrella' symbol. He also encouraged voters to cast 'negative' votes to reject the corrupt, extortionist and terrorist candidates.
He accused BNP of bribing LDP leaders and enticing them to run the polls under their banner in exchange for ministerial positions in the future governments.
The LDP president at the press conference held in the party office at Maghbazaar explained how their efforts of securing parliamentary seats by teaming up with the 'grand alliance' failed.
"We had demanded 15-20 seats, but the 'grand alliance' has not, so far, announced any of our candidates, which prompted at least five LDP presidium members, former minister and MPs to refrain from running the polls," said Oli.
The reasons LDP decided to go independent about contesting the election, he said, included AL's reluctance to discuss how it would like the president and prime minister to share authority, to punish the corrupt, the terrorists and the extortionists, and make the parliament effective
Meanwhile, Liberal Democratic Party led by Oli ahmed Thursday declared that it would contest the upcoming polls on its own and not as a partner of any alliance.
JP presidium member Golam Masih said that the deal over candidacy had been finalised, putting apparently to rest the political soap opera played out since an angry Ershad on Wednesday said his party was parting ways with the AL-led alliance.
HT Imam, co-chairman of the AL's election organising committee, confirmed the agreement.
"We have already prepared withdrawal papers for our candidates," said Imam.
"Now JP has to bring papers of the nominations which they are willing to withdraw."
Earlier, Anisul Islam Mahmud, acting chairman of JP, said that the JP had submitted nominations for 280 seats."
On Thursday morning, in a stunning reversal 15 hours after furiously announcing a break with AL-led alliance, Ershad had said the 'grand alliance' was very much there, at least until 5pm. "The 'grand alliance' is still intact.
"I have always talked about the 'grand alliance' in and outside the country and for this I was ridiculed by several leaders of Awami League. But I tolerated such humiliating remarks," the former military strongman said.
"A written agreement promised us 60 seats and that came down to 50, then 47 and now we hear that Jatiya Party will be given 40 seats."
An angry JP chief told reporters on Wednesday evening after a meeting of his party presidium, "Even if they (AL) offer us 70 seats or 100 seats, there's no going back,"
Later that day, after a meeting of the party's policymaking presidium, secretary general ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader at a media briefing in presence of senior party members had declared that Jatiya Party was leaving the alliance.
Liberal Democratic Party on Thursday declared that it would contest the upcoming polls on its own and not as a partner of any alliance.
LDP president retired colonel Oli Ahmed said at a media conference on Thursday "We have decided to run the election independently, fielding only the eligible and worthy candidates, and withdrawing the rest candidatures,"
Oli called upon people to cast their votes for candidates running the polls under 'umbrella' symbol. He also encouraged voters to cast 'negative' votes to reject the corrupt, extortionist and terrorist candidates.
He accused BNP of bribing LDP leaders and enticing them to run the polls under their banner in exchange for ministerial positions in the future governments.
The LDP president at the press conference held in the party office at Maghbazaar explained how their efforts of securing parliamentary seats by teaming up with the 'grand alliance' failed.
"We had demanded 15-20 seats, but the 'grand alliance' has not, so far, announced any of our candidates, which prompted at least five LDP presidium members, former minister and MPs to refrain from running the polls," said Oli.
The reasons LDP decided to go independent about contesting the election, he said, included AL's reluctance to discuss how it would like the president and prime minister to share authority, to punish the corrupt, the terrorists and the extortionists, and make the parliament effective