Awami League unfazed by additional JaPa candidates

Jatiya Party (JaPa) is fielding its own candidates in several constituencies, even after negotiations with the Awami League-led Grand Alliance over seat-sharing.  

However, ruling Awami League leaders say they are not at all concerned over the issue.   

Grand alliance leaders think Jatiya Party has been allocated as many seats as it deserves as per the party’s public support.  

However, JP candidates will not have any serious impact on the grand alliance candidates, they said. 

“There are fewer votes in constituencies where Jatiya Party has floated its own candidates. The grand alliance will not be affected by that. Rather, Jatiya Party will get to know their actual status,” said a member of Awami League’s parliamentary nomination board, preferring anonymity. 

Awami League recently reached a deal with its allies over seat-sharing. 

AQM Bodruddoza Chowdhury-led Jukta Front, which joined the grand alliance to contest the elections, was given three seats. The other partner of the grand alliance, Jatiya Party, got 26 seats. The party has also fielded candidates in constituencies where there are Awami League candidates. 

“We reached a deal withJatiya Party over seat-sharing in several constituencies. They wanted to put up their own candidates in some constituencies. But it is not necessary to field additional candidates as we have already left them some seats where they will get votes,” said Awami League Presidium Member Mohammad Nasim. 

On Sunday, Jatiya Party said in a press release that they were allocated 29 seats by the Grand Alliance. But according to the list released by the grand alliance, Jatiya Party was given 26 seats. 

On Monday, Jatiya Party Secretary-General Moshiur Rahman Ranga said his party will contest in 29 constituencies from the grand alliance, and run in 174 constituencies on its own.

He added that contesting the elections separately would not have any negative impact on the grand alliance. 

Jatiya Party candidates under the grand alliance are contesting with Awami League's electoral symbol “boat”,while the other candidates running under party banner will use JaPa's "plough" symbol.

The 11th parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held on December 30.