NCC Poll Campaign

Emotional appeals to voters

27 October 2011, 18:00 PM

Rashidul Hasan

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Lawmaker Kobori Sarwar on behalf of mayoral candidate Selina Hayat Ivy at Siddhirganj, Shamim Osman speaks to reporters at his Jamtala residence and Taimur Alam Khandaker at Amlapara yesterday. Photo: STAR

With separate strategies, Selina Hayat Ivy, Taimur Alam Khandaker and Shamim Osman, the three Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) mayoral candidates, are wooing voters with distinctive tones and promises, often emotionally blackmailing them. The arch-rivals, however, have similarities on two issues: selecting bold and dedicated loyalists as polling agents in the 131 “risky” poll centres and aim to turn the city of Narayanganj into a modern metropolis. Election Commission (EC) marked the “risky” poll centres over concerns that untoward incidents may occur at those places. Over 4.3 lakh people are expected to vote in 163 poll centres, containing over 1,500 booths, set up by the EC in the 27 wards of NCC. In that case, a mayoral candidate needs as many as 1,200 polling agents, said Mazibur Rahman, a local Awami League (AL) leader working in favour of Shamim, while talking to this correspondent yesterday. Shamim's approach to the voters is the most remarkable one. “I have nothing else to ask for at this juncture of my life. The only wish I possess in my heart is to please Allah and I know I can only fulfill my wish by serving you. “Please promise to me that you will give me that chance (of serving the almighty),” he humbly tells the voters. With these words, Shamim starts his campaign every day in the inner city areas of NCC. On the other hand, Ivy shows her personality by hugging women and caring for the elderly. The first thing she says is that she is seeking blessings from the people. “I have served you as a mayor for eight years without any allegation against me. I have had successes as well as failures but I have not opted for any dishonest activities,” Ivy tells the voters. On the contrary, the line of approach of Taimur, the BNP-backed candidate, is quite different. “I am not a tested candidate. I have never held a public post in Narayanganj, so I urge you to vote for me and see how well I perform.” Shamim sometimes tells voters, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is like my elder sister. Once I win the mayoral chair, I will be able to get anything that I demand to her for the development of Narayanganj. I am sure she will not refuse me.” In another tactic, Shamim often approaches female voters, saying, “The colour of my skin is so dark. Please do not dump me for my black skin.” Ivy, in her tactic, points to another of her salient features with reference to AL. Following instructions of AL high-ups, she left her bright career and posh life with her family in New Zealand when there was no prospective leader to fight in the NCC polls on behalf of AL, she says. The Ivy camp also tells voters that Shamim “fled” from Narayanganj on the night of 2001 national polls to save himself from the post-election consequences and returned after AL assumed power in 2009. Close associates of the trio said the candidates are now frantically looking for trusted and brave activists to work as polling agents in the first ever NCC polls. The condition: these agents must not “fear” threats or bow down to temptation of bribes from rival camps. “We need courageous people as our polling agents, especially in the risky centres,” said one campaigner to Ivy at her Deovog residence recently. In reply, Ivy said, “Find those bold activists who will rather die than leave the polling station.” Mazibur, the local AL leader, said, “Bhai (Shamim) is looking for brave and loyal people to do the tasks of polling agents.” The Taimur camp is also working relentlessly in search of bold and tested activists to work as polling agents, Taimur's campaigners told this correspondent. Use of muscle power and threats and manipulation of rival polling agents are almost common practice in the country's election history. Dishonest rival aspirants, attempting to rig the polls, frantically try to manipulate the polling agents of their opponent camps with either bribes or threats.