JP's joining 'grand alliance' deepens rivalry for ticket

From(L-R): Ahasan Ahmed, Joinal Abedin and Abdus Sattar

Jatiya Party's electoral alliance with 14-party has intensified their rivalry as the contender who was earlier associated with Awami League could influence both AL and JP high-ups to get the ticket, his rivals claim.

Ahsan Ahmed, now JP central vice-president, joined the party in 1996 leaving the post of Nilphamari district BNP president. His contender Joinal Abedin deserted the post of district Awami League secretary and joined JP in 2001 as its central assistant secretary.

They are now abusing each other at public meetings while their supporters declared each other 'unwanted' in the constituency.

Ahsan Ahmed staged a big show of strength and held a rally on the Shaheed Minar premises yesterday, where he called Joinal Abedin a 'traitor'.

He said that in 1996 he (Ahsan Ahmed) was elected MP with JP ticket but Joinal Abedin snatched his candidature in 2001 after he (Joinal Abedin) joined JP leaving Awami League.

"But he (Joinal Abedin) got a shameful defeat (in 2001 polls) with a big margin of about 30,000 votes with Awami League candidate and ran third", Ahsan told the rally.

"Joinal Abedin has been rejected by people. He was also expelled from Awami League as he betrayed with the party", Ahsan said. Awami League would never influence JP in giving him nomination, Ahsan claimed.

Ahsan also claimed that only he can snatch victory in the coming election as JP candidate.

At the rally, Ahsan's supporters declared Joinal 'unwanted' in their Ramnagar Haat and Tumapari Haat strongholds. The markets are prime spots in the constituency for campaigning.

The faction led by Joinal Abedin got a big boost after Ershad joined the AL-led 'grand alliance'. His loyalists say the situation is more favourable now for them as they would feel comfortable to campaign for him among his former party men.

Joinal Abedin at a party meeting at district JP office on Tuesday last alleged that Ahsan Ahmed is 'BNP's planted man in JP' and he is 'soft to 4- party alliance'.

He also claimed that Ahsan has 'secret understanding with BNP and Jamaat'.

He claimed that in the present situation Ahsan Ahmed has no right to claim nomination from Nilphamari-2 constituency as a JP man.

At the meeting, Joinal's supporters declared Ahsan Ahmed 'unwanted' in the constituency and made the district JP office off-limits to him.

Both Ahsan and Joinal claimed that they would get nomination.

Making the best use of the situation, a newcomer JP candidate, retired assistant commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Abdus Sattar claimed himself to be a 'compromise candidate'. He has also launched a massive campaign.

Claiming himself to a 'trusted' police officer during Ershad regime, Sattar says he is in the field after getting Ershad's commitment for nomination from Nilphamari-2 constituency.