Rangamati sees highest 'No' votes
Wednesday, 31 December 2008
With the first-ever provision of 'No' votes in the national elections, as many as 32,064 indigenous people in Rangamati said 'no' to the candidates in Monday's polls, reports bdnews24.com.
The negative votes recorded in Rangamati did not, however, impact the final results of the constituency.
Awami League-led grand alliance contender Dipangkar Talukder won the seat with 1,14,965 votes with his four-party alliance rival Moitree Chakma trailing with 66,429 votes.
The United People's Democratic Front (UPDF), a hills people's organisation, earlier campaigned for 'No' votes among the indigenous community.
More than 100,000 negative votes were recorded nationwide until early hours of Tuesday, Election Commission officials said.
The Election Commission (EC) officials said 'No' votes were cast in all of the 299 constituencies with the highest being in Rangamati.
According to the new provision, 50 per cent or more 'no' ballots cast in a constituency would lead to a re-election.
EC Deputy Secretary AKM Salimullah told the news agency Monday night, "Many voters who didn't find their choice among the candidates didn't show up in the centres in the past elections.
"But the new provision drew them to the polling booths as it allowed them to say 'no."
"This will again put pressure on the parties to field the right candidates."
EC Senior Assistant Secretary Farhad Ahmed Khan agreed on this point.
"A big number of voters casting 'no' ballots added to the higher turnout."
The negative votes recorded in Rangamati did not, however, impact the final results of the constituency.
Awami League-led grand alliance contender Dipangkar Talukder won the seat with 1,14,965 votes with his four-party alliance rival Moitree Chakma trailing with 66,429 votes.
The United People's Democratic Front (UPDF), a hills people's organisation, earlier campaigned for 'No' votes among the indigenous community.
More than 100,000 negative votes were recorded nationwide until early hours of Tuesday, Election Commission officials said.
The Election Commission (EC) officials said 'No' votes were cast in all of the 299 constituencies with the highest being in Rangamati.
According to the new provision, 50 per cent or more 'no' ballots cast in a constituency would lead to a re-election.
EC Deputy Secretary AKM Salimullah told the news agency Monday night, "Many voters who didn't find their choice among the candidates didn't show up in the centres in the past elections.
"But the new provision drew them to the polling booths as it allowed them to say 'no."
"This will again put pressure on the parties to field the right candidates."
EC Senior Assistant Secretary Farhad Ahmed Khan agreed on this point.
"A big number of voters casting 'no' ballots added to the higher turnout."