Jatiya Party (JaPa) has seen a deepening leadership crisis over the course last one month ahead of national polls scheduled for January 7.
JaPa Chairman GM Quader himself wants to run for Rangpur-3 constituency, which is a stronghold for JaPa traditionally. With the deadline to submit nomination papers by November 30, party’s Chief Patron Raushan Ershad is backing her son Saad Ershad to run for the seat.
However, local party leaders and activists have taken a position in favor of not nominating Saad from the constituency under any circumstances. They say that they will not accept anyone from the constituency apart from GM Quader.
Party sources said that the JaPa had asked the Awami League (AL) not to nominate any candidate for three Rangpur constituencies. But the ruling party on Sunday nominated candidates for all six constituencies in Rangpur.
Meanwhile, Mashiur Rahman Ranga, the former general secretary of JaPa, has decided to run for the seat as an independent candidate despite his close ties with Raushan Ershad.
The party chief patron on Saturday requested the party nomination board to give her three nomination forms—one for herself, another one for her son Saad Ershad, and the third one for Dr KR Islam.
Party insiders say the decision to exclude Ranga from the list of three candidates from Raushan’s side has forced Ranga run independently.
Party insiders also say that JaPa has finalized its six candidates to run in Rangpur. They are GM Quader’s nephew Asif Shahriar from Rangpur-1, Anis Mandal from Rangpur-2, GM Quader from Rangpur-3, Selim Bengal from Rangpur-4, Anisur Rahman from Rangpur-5 and Nur Alom Jadu from Rangpur-6.
Meanwhile, GM Quader has already collected his nomination form from the Rangpur election office for Rangpur-3 seat. District JaPa Joint Convener Ajmal Hossain Lebu confirmed the matter to the media on Saturday.
According to sources, Raushan is currently in negotiation with Quader regarding retaining Saad Ershad as party candidate from Rangpur-3. The two leaders met at Raushan’s Gulshan residence on Saturday night. They held a meeting for an hour, according to party sources.
JaPa Co-chairman and Rangpur City Corporation Mayor Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa told Dhaka Tribune that local leaders of the party want to see GM Quader to run for Rangpur-3. District JaPa General Secretary Abdur Razzak echoed Mostafizar over the issue.
Senior leaders of the party told this correspondent that GM Quader has chosen this constituency for himself as he is confident to win from here.
Sources further said that Raushan may get an appointment with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to meet her this week amid the ongoing raft inside the party. GM Quader has also sought an appointment with the PM.
