Netrakona BNP won't accept JP man as coalition candidate

BNP leaders and activists in Netrakona will not accept any JP leader as a coalition candidate in any of the five constituencies in the district, Netrakona district BNP President MA Karim Abbasi MP told this correspondent.

He claimed that JP does not have organisational strength and public support in Netrakona. Giving any seat to JP would mean losing it, he said.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Ershad's recent meeting with BNP Senior Joint Secretary Tarique Rahman created a rumour here that JP Presidium member Fakir Ashraf could contest from Netrakona- 2 constituency as a coalition candidate in the coming election.

When contacted, Fakir Ashraf said if JP forms electoral alliance with four-party combine, he will get nomination in Netrakona-2 constituency (Netrakona Sadar and Barhatta upazila). "I got such a hint from our party chairman (Ersahad)"

Fakir Ashraf contest from the constituency in 1996 election and in 2004 by-election as JP (Ershad) candidate but lost to Awami League candidate Fazlur Rahaman Khan in 1996 and to BNP candidate Abu Abbasi in 2004.

In the 2004 by-election, held following the death of AL lawmaker Abdul Momin, Abu Abbasi got 81,067 votes and Fakir Ashraf got 32,019 votes.

MA Karim Abbasi outright rejected the possibility accepting Fakir Ashraf as a coalition candidate. "BNP leaders and activists will not accept any JP candidate in any of the five constituencies", he said.

"If Fakir Ashraf gets nomination from Netrakona-2, then I will run as an independent candidate", he said.

Netrakona district BNP leader MM Selim said Jatiya Party does not have any political activity in many areas in the district. So JP's joining will have little effect in the district.

Asked about Fakir Ashraf, Selim said, he will not get support of BNP leaders and activists even if he is nominated from Netrakona-2 constituency.

This correspondent also talked to at least 20 BNP leaders, who shared the views of Selim and Abbasi.

But Netrakona distict Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Abdul Hakim gave a different view. He said his party will support Fakir Ashraf or any other JP leader if nominated by the alliance.