Netrakona-1

AL eyes <i>adibasi</i> votes as alliance banks on unity

16 December 2008, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Netrakona

All eyes are riveted to the bordering Netrakona-1 (Bordering upazilas Kalmakanda and Durgapur) constituency where two new faces and ex-student leaders Barrister Kaiser Kamal and Mostak Ahmed Ruhi have locked horns in the polls battle. Barrister Kaiser Kamal is a new face in election battle. He was a central student leader of JCD. On the other hand, Mostak Ahmed Ruhi was the Vice President of Mymensingh Ananda Mohon University College Chhatra Sangshad. He is also a fresh face in electoral race. The two rivals are the men of Kalmakanda upazila and same village. In 1991 general election BNP candidate MA Karim Abbasi was elected MP from this seat defeating AL's Jalal Uddin Talukder. In 1996 general election AL candidate Talukder was elected MP in the constituency defeating BNP nominee MA Karim Abbasi. Karim Abbasi won this seat defeating AL's Talukder in 2001 JS election. In the constituency bordering Adibashi villages is known as vote bank of AL. Ruhi is looking forward to cash in the number of Adibashi voters. Of the 2.64,945 voters in the constituency, around 20 per cent are Adibashi and he hopes to bag all. On the other hand, all four-party alliance leaders and workers are united to win in the constituency. But the grand alliance could not unite as ex-MP Jalal Uddin Talukder who was denied ticket from grand alliance along with followers could not adjust with Ruhi and his followers till now. Talukder and his followers did not take part in the election campaign of Ruhi yet. AL sources said, district leaders of AL are trying to make an adjustment between Ruhi and Jalal.