Early election?

By AZ Dhaka
13 June 2005, 18:00 PM
The cat is not out of the bag. The BNP chief threw a hint that it might be necessary to call for early general elections, if the party MPs continued to play the truant game in the JS, creating quorum problem. As a veteran voter, I would not be surprised.

Waiting for an excuse? Public opinion is building up from day to day on reforms to the caretaker form of government (CTG). The current regime has nothing to lose, enjoying overall majority in the parliament. The regime is saying no to all requests for reform. Later it might lose its face if circumstances compel this compliance.

The AL could not win the last elections after remaining in power for five years. How could it win now, with only one-fifth seats, and with some mini scattered opposition parties, who never counted in the mainstream of politics (but Jamaat and allies broke the queue!). The Chittagong mayor election revealed that support of a major party is not needed when the candidate is genuine and pre-tested.

The AL has to do some soul-searching; seek power, or keep the party alive? Name selling cannot last infinitely none governs from the grave. Use own souls and soles! The millions of voters are now familiar with the "Wolf, wolf" cry in our political camps. Why go to vote? Vote whom?