New faces, ticket for JP frustrate Tangail AL
AL has fielded new faces in three out of the eight seats and left one for its alliance partner Jatiya Party (Ershad).
Among the dropped four senior AL leaders, three lost the 2001 election with small margins, party sources said.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Tangail district AL president Shamsur Rahman Khan Shajahan and upazila AL convener Azmal Hossen yesterday submitted nomination papers from Tangail-3 (Ghatail) constituency, ignoring decisions of the party high command, which nominated Dr Motiur Rrahman from the seat.
Shamsur Rahman told this correspondent yesterday that he would contest as an independent candidate if the party high command does not change its decision. "This will be my last battle to win the seat as an independent candidate", he said.
At a press conference on Monday night, Shamsur Rahman said he would resist Motiur Rahman in Tangail-3. Azmal Hossen and Ghatail upazila AL joint convener Shahidul Islam Lebu also attended the press conference.
Motiur submitted nomination paper yesterday.
Party sources however said AL fielded fresh candidate in Tangail-3 as Shamsur Rahman lost to BNP leader and former minister Lutfar Rahman Khan Azad in last three parliamentary elections with small margins.
In Tangail-5 (Sadar-Delduar), AL leaders and workers said they were shocked as the high command did not nominate Ataur Rahman Khan and left the seat for JP (Ershad) leader Abul Kashem, who ran fourth in 2001 election.
"Our hopes have been dashed", said a follower of Ataur Rahman Khan. He was a front ranking leader in all movements in the district, he said.
They said they will launch agitation if the decision is not changed.
In Tangail-6 (Nagarpur), party leaders said they were surprised as Ahsanul Islam Titu got nomination instead of Khondokar Abdul Baten, who lost to BNP leader and former minister Gautam Chakroborty in last two parliament elections with small margins.
They said Baten has reputation as an honest leader and he was defeated in the last election with only 1,878, when rebel AL candidate Golam Mohammad Khan Tareque sliced away 16, 462 votes as an independent candidate.
This time Baten has a fair chance to win, they claimed.