BNP walks tightrope between unity and local ambitions

Opposition parties have already started preparing for the upcoming local government elections by fielding single candidates, while the ruling BNP is still trying to manage internal grouping and identify acceptable candidates through local consultations, party insiders said.

BNP leaders said the party high command has instructed grassroots units to prepare lists of potential candidates. However, the party has yet to finalise candidates in many areas, as the leadership wants to avoid internal clashes before making decisions.

Senior leaders said BNP is working on a strategy to keep local leaders united, prevent vote splitting and stop opposition candidates from benefiting from divisions within the ruling party.

The leadership wants candidates to be selected through local-level assessments, considering popularity, organisational strength, voter acceptability, past role in the party and electability.

A BNP standing committee member, who is also a minister, said the party does not want to impose candidates from the centre.

“We want potential candidates to emerge through local consultation. The high command does not want local leaders to feel ignored,” he told this newspaper on condition of anonymity.

“We have also instructed party leaders that local MPs should not influence the candidate selection process. Decisions should be based on local reality, popularity, acceptability and electability,” he added.

On May 9, BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman hinted that local government elections to upazilas and municipalities may be held within the next few months.

He said he will not be able to make anyone win in local polls and that candidates have to get elected by working in the field and earning people’s trust.

After forming the government, BNP appointed administrators to zila parishads and city corporations, while most union parishad, municipality and upazila parishad chairmen and members fled following the July uprising.

The Election Commission has yet to announce the election schedule.

Party insiders said BNP’s main concern is the presence of multiple powerful groups at the local level, with each group wanting its own candidate.

In many constituencies, followers of BNP lawmakers have already started campaigning for local government posts. At the same time, long-time party leaders outside the lawmakers’ circles are also preparing to contest.

BNP fears multiple party-linked candidates in the same area could split votes and benefit opposition candidates.

Several leaders said the party does not want a repeat of the problems seen during the national polls, when some aspirants contested despite party decisions, embarrassing the leadership and, in some cases, helping rivals.

The challenge may be greater in local polls because aspirants can contest as independents while still using their local BNP identity.

BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Emran Saleh Prince said the party will support one candidate in each area based on local assessments.

“If more than one candidate contests from the BNP camp, the opposition may gain an advantage, and this is a major challenge for the party,” he told this newspaper.

“There is no scope for more than one candidate. Support will be given based on local reality, popularity and acceptability,” he said, adding, “We will tell everyone to take measures by understanding the local situation.”

Another senior BNP leader said local elections are not decided by party identity alone.

“In local elections, personal image matters. Family background, local service, social relations and the ability to manage voters are important. The party cannot support someone only because he is close to an MP or holds a committee post,” he said.

Party insiders said BNP may try to resolve disputes through local meetings, informal surveys and recommendations from district and divisional leaders. In sensitive areas, the central leadership may intervene directly.