Jatiya Party (JaPa) plans to focus its efforts on a campaign for “No” vote in the upcoming referendum to remain in political discussions, rather than pushing for its own candidates in the 13th parliamentary election.
This strategic shift comes as party candidates see no significant prospect of favourable results in the polls. Despite numerous uncertainties regarding their participation, the party remains in the electoral race with 195 candidates, even though its organisational state is currently fragile.
Having maintained a close relationship with the Awami League (AL) government until its final days, JaPa is under pressure for being recognised as an associate of the “fascist” regime.
Despite such a problematic label, the party, under the leadership of Chairman GM Quader, has managed to conduct electioneering without encountering major obstacles thus far.
JaPa is adopting a strategic position to gain favour as its long-term ally, the Awami League, is currently absent from the ballot. GM Quader stated on Thursday that an election without the Awami League would likely lack broader acceptance.
Concerns over prolonged interim govt tenure
The party believes that the current interim government is attempting to prolong its tenure by securing a “Yes” vote in the referendum.
Speaking to TIMES of Bangladesh, GM Quader mentioned that while his campaign has not been obstructed yet, pressure on party candidates is increasing and could intensify in the coming days.
He claimed that a “Yes” vote would allow the interim government to employ various “tricks” and “stratagems” to stay in power indefinitely, which the party cannot allow knowingly.
The party intends to maintain a strong campaign for a “No” vote until the final moments, as they believe a “No” result would prevent the government from prolonging its power.
GM Quader is contesting the Rangpur-3 seat, while Secretary General Shamim Haider Patwary is standing for the Gaibandha-1 and Gaibandha-5 constituencies.
Since the official start of the campaign on 22 January, these top leaders have concentrated solely on their own constituencies and have not campaigned for other party candidates.
Organisational instability, internal divisions
The lack of broader campaigning by top leadership stems from fears of attacks from organisations and groups involved in the July movement. Multiple party sources suggest that JaPa is unlikely to achieve significant results by contesting alone.
Founded in 1986 by former president Hussain Muhammad Ershad, JaPa is now divided into six factions and nearly faced another split just before the election.
The party’s popularity in its traditional strongholds of Rangpur and Rajshahi has declined at a disappointing rate, leading to a failure to field candidates in 17 seats across those divisions. There are even doubts regarding whether the Chairman and Secretary General can win their own seats.
Under these circumstances, staying relevant in political discussions is seen as more beneficial for the party than the actual election results.
Leaders from the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami do not consider JaPa a significant factor in this election and suspect that because JaPa anticipates poor results, it may try to create issues regarding the election’s fairness or question the outcome even if the voting is transparent.
Anxieties and inclusiveness
Ashrafuzzaman Ashu, the general secretary of the district JaPa and candidate for Satkhira-2, stated he has not faced problems yet but fears interference from supporters of BNP candidate Abdur Rouf.
The former Member of Parliament added that he does not foresee a positive outcome for JaPa in this election.
Meanwhile, Sarwar Hossain Shaheen, president of the Gaibandha district unit, confirmed they are campaigning for a “No” vote and have not experienced any violence, though the future remains uncertain.
The interim government is reportedly keen for JaPa to remain in the race to ensure the election appears participatory, particularly since the Awami League activities are banned.
If JaPa were to withdraw, the government could face international and domestic questions regarding the election’s inclusivity – a message that has already reached the high commands of both the BNP and Jamaat.
