JP’s downward spiral continues

Ahead of the Gazipur City Corporation polls, the main opposition in parliament Jatiya Party had said its mayoral candidate would secure good result in the election if it was held in free and fair manner.

Overcoming all confusions, the GCC polls was held in a peaceful atmosphere. But the JP mayoral candidate MM Niaz Uddin earned the sixth position out of total eight mayoral candidates and even lost security deposit as he couldn't bag eight percent of the total casting votes.

Political analyst said although, in papers, JP is the main opposition party in parliament, the party lacks credibility in people's mind due to its flip-flopping over the years.

In the May 25 GCC mayoral race, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Gonofront and an independent candidate secured more votes than the JP.

JP Chairman GM Quader, while talking to The Daily Star, admitted that although they are called the main opposition party, it has been suffering from image crisis for various reasons for which their candidates couldn't do well in the competitive election.

"One of the reasons is that our senior leaders are making contradictory remarks in and outside the parliament on a similar issue, which is creating confusion among people's mind regarding our real political stance," said the JP leader.

One of the reasons is that our senior leaders are making contradictory remarks in and outside the parliament on a similar issue, which is creating confusion among people's mind regarding our real political stance.

GM Quader

Another reason is that their political stance is not getting clear before the people's mind, he also said.

GM Quader said, "The confidence we are creating among people simply washed away due to our leaders' paradoxical statements."

The JP chairman also said, "Some of our leaders [MP] deliver speeches in parliament in support of the government to get allocation for… their constituency. They talk in such a way that we are the government's B-team."

GM Quader said the party is going to take stern actions against those leaders who will talk against their policy.

Al Masud Hasanuzzaman, a professor of Government and Politics at Jahangirnagar University, said although JP is called the main opposition in parliament, in real sense and in the political process, BNP is in that position.

He also said there is perception in people's mind that JP is the part of the government. That's why, their credibility in the election and in the political field is questionable.

Several JP MPs including its Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu, on different occasions, also raised questions whether JP is the real opposition or not.

After a reversal decision ahead of 2014 one-sided national elections, JP finally took part in it and after polls the party was both in the opposition and in then Sheikh Hasina's cabinet.

JP contested the 2018 elections as a component in the AL-led grand alliance.  However, the party finally decided to sit in the opposition bench in parliament.