The New Nation - Internet Edition

Pulack Ghatack

The backstage effort to revive the AL-led 'grand alliance' may result in a break up of the 14-party alliance itself, as most of its centre-left components have strong objections to the inclusion of Jatiya Party and some other anti-secular forces in the platform.

Awami League is learnt to have been discussing with Jatiya Party, Bikalpa Dhara and some Islamist parties, which support the Liberation War, to forge a greater electoral alliance.

The 14-party alliance, which became feeble after the one-eleven change, has now become fragile over dispute among components on selection of mayoral candidate for Rajshahi City Corporation polls.

While talking to The New Nation some top leaders of the 14-party alliance were frank to say that they would leave the platform, if Awami League tries to re-organise the grand electoral alliance with the inclusion of Jatiya Party and other non-secular parties.

Some small parties may also drift away further due to strong feud among leaders and activists over staying or leaving the alliance, which is turning into an electoral alliance instead of the issue-based alliance forged earlier on the basis of 23-point declaration.

Strong debate raged within the alliance over reports of Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad's meeting with Awami League president Sheikh Hasina in London, which both the parties denied.

However, Ershad yesterday declared that his party was still with the AL-led 'grand alliance' Mahajote, which had never been dissolved.

"I was always with the grand alliance and I am still with it," Ershad told reporters at Zia International Airport on his return from London.

"The alliance has not been dissolved," said the former president, who is used to change his political stance frequently.

However, the announcement is being considered as very significant in the context of present political scenario as Ershad is evidently enjoying "special blessings" of the army-backed Caretaker Government, political observers said.

Ershad, however, denied for a second time having had any meeting with Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, who was in London at the same time.

BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar had earlier alleged that Ershad and Hasina had met in London, terming it the 'London conspiracy'.

Workers' Party President Rashed Khan Menon and Sammobadi Dal president Dilip Barua categorically told this correspondent that they would leave the alliance immediately, if Jatiya Party intrudes into it.

However, Gonatantry Party president Nurul Islam said, "Any patriotic party can join the alliance if it supports the Liberation War and accepts our 23-point declarations which is the basis of the 11-party unity.

"We will discuss the issue in details at the central committee meeting to be held on August 1 and frame our future strategy," he said.

Acting president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) Syed Zafar Sajjad and General Secretary of National Awami Party (NAP) Adv Enamul Huq said Awami League should not take any unilateral decision rather it should hold discussion with the allies on the matter.

However, the front ranking Awami League leaders were very cautious to comment on it.

When contacted Awami League Presidium Members, Tofail Ahmed and Matia Chowdhury, said that it was not wise to comment on such important issue before time.