Outsider JP bigwigs eye alliance ticket in greater Rangpur

But local leaders in greater Rangpur have strong objection to nomination to 'outsider candidates'.

Taking to this correspondent, central JP vice-president Ahsan Ahmed said the JP chairman 'must select local leaders for alliance nomination because voters in greater Rangpur would not accept the outsider candidates'. HE is a JP leader from Nilphamari sadar upazila (Nilphamari-2 constituency).

Seeking anonymity, some front ranking JP leaders in Nilphamari Sadar said some party heavyweights from outside greater Rangpur are now contacting them and taking about nomination and election. They declined to be identified while taking about party seniors but said the party should select local candidates for the coming polls.

Alongside lobbying for nomination, some central JP leaders have stared pre-polls campaign in greater Rangpur.

Central JP secretary general Ruhul Amin Hawladar visited some remote areas in Lalmonirhat district and met party activists and the elite, keeping in mind the coming parliamentary election, party sources said. He made the visit on his own although there was no party programme there.

During the visits he addressed public rallies in remote Patgram and Hatibandha upazilas (Lalmonirha-1), urging people to vote for JP in the coming election, whoever might be the candidate 'to honour Ershad, a man from Rangpur'.

His visit gave rise to speculations and confusion about his hidden intention. Questions were raised why he came to the remote area without addressing rallies or holding party programmes at Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and other district headquarters.

Asked about this, JP central vice-president NK Alam could not give any satisfactory reply. But he did not rule out the possibility of Howlader running from the area (Potgram and Hatibandha).

Hawlader lost parliament elections in 1991, 1996 and 2001. In 2001 election, he fought from Bakherganj-6 constituency and lost to BNP candidate with a big margin. He also lost his security money.

In 1996 election, he got only 5,332 votes against 66,000 score by Awami League's Shajhan Mia in Patuakhali-1 constituency. He lost his security money there also.

Like Hawladar, JP top leaders Mostofa Jamal Haider, Kazi Zafar Ahmed and Firoj Rashid Chowdhury also could not win any of the last three parliament elections from their respective areas.

Former JP chairman Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury and former secretary general Shah Moazzem Hossen however won bye-elections in Rangpur in 1991. They ran in two seats out of four seats vacated by Ershad, who won in five seats there.

But local people wee not happy with them (Mizan Chowdhury and Shah Moazzem) because after winning the by-election, they never visited the areas, party sources said.

JP chairman HM Ershad was also unhappy with them as they did not press for his release from jail.