NCP weighing its paths to JS

Nearly half of the NCP's central leaders favour forging an alliance with the BNP ahead of the 13th national election in February.

The other members are considering three options -- an alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami, a broader centrist coalition without the BNP, or just running independently.

At a recent executive committee meeting, half of the party's leaders proposed allying with the BNP and finalising seat negotiations ahead of the polls, NCP sources said.

Requesting anonymity, a top NCP leader told The Daily Star, "Half of our party leaders are in favour of joining a BNP-led alliance. We are also considering other options."

About why they are seeking an alliance, he said, "The upcoming election is important. NCP's participation in parliament is essential. The party is not yet as politically strong as the BNP or Jamaat -- it needs both supporters and financial resources.

"If we fail to secure any seats, we won't be able to directly pursue NCP's key agendas, such as constitutional reforms, implementation of the July Charter, and the formation of a new state. These demands can't be effectively highlighted or implemented without entering parliament. Therefore, NCP cannot remain isolated. We must unite with another party…"

NCP leaders have already met with the BNP over seat sharing, while some of them are also in talks with like-minded parties to form a broader alliance as a "secondary option".

Last Thursday, NCP senior leaders met with representatives of the Amar Bangladesh Party, Gono Odhikar Parishad, and the six-party Ganatantra Mancha alliance at the residence of ASM Abdur Rab, founding secretary general of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal. They discussed possible alliances with and without the BNP, meeting insiders said.

While the nine parties discussed the possibility of forming a centrist alliance without the BNP, meeting sources confirmed that some members of some parties were more eager to align with the BNP expected to form the next government.

Ganatantra Mancha is comprised of Ganasamhati Andolon, Nagarik Oikya, Rashtra Sangskar Andolon, Biplobi Workers Party, Bhasani Anusari Parishad, and JSD (Rab faction).

Regarding seat sharing with the BNP, Ganasamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki said, "Discussions regarding seat sharing are underway. However, nothing is final yet. There will be more discussions."

Nagarik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna confirmed his intent to The Daily Star, saying, "We have been with the BNP and have been agitating together from the beginning, so we will cooperate in building the next state. After finalising our candidates, we will hold discussions with the BNP and make a final decision on this matter within the next three days."

Rashed Khan, general secretary of Gono Odhikar Parishad, said, "Many kinds of discussions about alliances take place when political parties sit together. We talked about the possibilities of creating an alliance with the BNP and even Jamaat-e-Islami, and also about forming an alliance among ourselves."

AB Party sources said they were pushing for a centrist alliance excluding the BNP so that they could attract voters who would not vote for either the BNP or Jamaat.

"The idea is to collectivise and keep the spirit of the revolution alive," a senior party leader said.

Didarul Bhuiyan, member-secretary of Rashtra Sangskar Andolon, said, "If some of the political parties of the Ganatantra Mancha choose to ally with the BNP, we might separate and we will pursue other alliances. We're more eager to form alliances outside the BNP and Jamaat."

Rashtra Sangskar Andolon is not registered with the Election Commission as a political party.