Election in Tower Hamlets

Nazir Ahmed from London | Published: May 21, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00

There is a huge enthusiasm in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets on the forthcoming election scheduled for May 22.  The emotion in the East End is running high.  Wherever you go - be it in shop, relatives' house or mosque - you are bound to hear various speculations and forecasts.  In fact, the election, campaigns and the potential winners have been the talk of Tower Hamlets for the last few weeks.  The respective candidates and their supporters have recently intensified their canvassing, propaganda, public relations and campaigns to convince the voters.     
Three elections will be held in one day: local (councillors) election, Executive Mayor Election and the Member of European Parliament (MEP) election.  Therefore, voter turnout is expected to be high.  High turnout can be a decisive factor and thus it may be a nightmare for some candidates.  Many gossips, talks, forecasts, rumours and emotion are going on, particularly, in relation to the post of Executive Mayor.  
Tower Hamlets is a Bengali-dominated area.  Here live more Bangladeshis than in any other part of Great Britain in similar size of geographical area.  A significant number of voters in Tower Hamlets are of Bangladesh origin.  The current elected Executive Mayor and most of the sitting councillors belonging to various parties and the independent ones are of Bangladesh origin.  A significant number of voters are Muslim as well.  
hus, Bangladeshi and Muslim voters will be a determining factor in the forthcoming election.  Recent controversial BBC Panorama programme, sending inspector to Tower Hamlets by the local government secretary, statement by the police of finding no wrongdoing and many targeted articles in the mainstream newspapers by some right-wing journalists have brought the Tower Hamlets on spotlight.  The whole country pays particular attention to this borough.  
In politics, there should, of course, be a strong, continuous and intensive fight.  But that fight must be of set policies and principles by the talent and wisdom.  There must not be a smear campaign, dirty tricks using illegal means, personal attacks and false propaganda or false promises.  
Voters should be given a clear choice with policies, track records and honest promises so that they can decide their future.  A renowned political scientist said "Politician tends to promise to build a bridge where there is no river!"  That will not, hopefully, happen to Tower Hamlets. Voters will undoubtedly see the track records of the candidates and political parties and then give their valuable mandate.
Britain is considered as the hallmark of democracy.  In the British democracy, tolerance, civil liberties, mutual respect, freedom of expression, justice and rule of law are fundamental norms and traditions.  
Everyone should vote.  Voting right is one of the basic, constitutional, democratic and fundamental rights.  It is a civic duty too.  Thus, our voting rights must not be overlooked or given less importance.  Whom you will vote depends on your choice, wisdom and individual judgement.  Your one vote may make the difference or can shape or change the course of history.  
Barrister Nazir Ahmed is
a legal expert, analyst,
writer and columnist.  
ahmedlaw2002@yahoo.co.uk)