The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Top leaders of the left-leaning political parties yesterday claimed that both the Caretaker Government and the Election Commission have violated the Constitution by announcing the programme to hold local body polls before the parliamentary elections.

Speaking at a roundtable discussion in the capital yesterday, they said the Caretaker Government is constitutionally mandated only to hold general elections, while the Election Commission has no rights to get involved in enacting laws.

"Both the Government and the Election Commission have crossed their constitutional boundaries," Workers Party (WP) President Rashed Khan Menon said, while delivering his presidential speech at the roundtable organised by his party at Shaheed Asad Auditorium at Topkhana Road.

"The Government finalised the Local Government Elections Law after twice seeking opinion from the Election Commission, which had never been involved in law making process in this country," said Menon, who himself led two WP delegations during the talks with the Election Commission (EC) and requested the national polls body to reform the electoral laws.

Menon, also a veteran parliamentarian, however, would not explain as to whether the EC was constitutionally mandated to reform the electoral laws or not.

CPB General Secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim alleged that the Government was trying to hold local body polls before the general elections, for what he said, as its "game-plan". The CPB leader did not elaborate.

Influential Awami League Presidium member Abdur Razzak opined that local government election before the national election would hinder the polls roadmap.

He said local government election before national poll would enhance bureaucratic control over the elected bodies, as there would be no political supervision.

UP Chairmen Oikya Jote leader Mahbubur Rahman Tulu, Teachers' Association President Principal Kazi Farooq, NAP (M) leader MA Gani and Khet Majoor Samity General Secretary Prof Abdus Sattar, among others, took part in the discussion.