The New Nation - Internet Edition

Hasnat Abdul Hye

Leaders are chosen by people when they vote in election. But there is a stage before that when leaders are selected and nominated by their parties as their candidates. Barring the tried and tested leaders, many candidates belonging to political parties faced uncertainty in getting nomination in the past. Allegations were heard that parties indulged in what has been described as 'nomination business', nominating those candidates who could contribute the highest amount to the party coffer. All told, the nomination process followed in the past was anything but transparent and lacked accountability.

Lack of transparency called for reform in the nomination process. It can be said to be an integral part of the overall political reform measures promoted by the present caretaker government (CTG). Accordingly, in the amended Representation of the People Order, 2008 provision has been made requiring political parties to nominate candidates on the basis of a panel of leaders prepared by the party office at the grassroots. The idea is to reflect the opinion of the electorate in respect of the potential candidates. Since votes are not taken by the party at the grassroot, eliciting public opinion in respect of candidates in a constituency, the preparation of the panel leaves room for use of influence by the local leaders. Though it is not the most satisfactory method of selecting 'right candidates', the alleged financial transaction between the candidates and the party is at least averted in this process. This, of course, does not preclude the possibility of buying support by leaders/candidates at the field level. But the system proposed is an improvement on what has been practiced so long. It is more democratic, has some transparency and makes the nominating authority more accountable.

The Awami League has completed nomination of candidates in all the constituencies with options for withdrawal of some candidates' names at the eleventh hour. In selecting candidates from within the party for nomination, the party reportedly took into consideration the recommendations made by its grassroots committees. But final selections have not followed recommendations from below in all cases, indicating that decision at the top still prevails. It is not known whether the field-level committees would be told why their recommendations could not be accepted by the party high-ups. If this were to happen, there would be transparency and accountability in the decision-making process ushering in a change in the same.

From the nominations made by Awami League it is seen that leaders who have been convicted in lower courts under EPR have been excluded. This is a decision in line with the policy of the CTG for carrying out political reform, though it was hard for the party to take. Awami League deserves appreciation for being pragmatic in this respect. But along with the convicted leaders, some mid-level leaders who were in favour of reform in the party have also been dropped from nomination. They mostly belong to the new generation of politicians and had the potential of infusing new blood in the party. It seems that though senior leaders have been forgiven for reform initiatives, the mid-level leaders have not been so lucky. Little more generosity and even-handedness was expected from the party chief in their case. A new phenomenon has been the nomination of a good number of retired officials from a particular government service. They are mostly new in politics and, as such, are likely to bring a qualitative change. But the sudden surge in their number has given rise to speculations as to whether this is pure coincidence or has been carefully planned. Meanwhile, supporters (including hired hands) of those leaders who failed to get nomination are agitating both at field level and before the residence of the Awami League chief. The demonstrators were lathi-charged and dispersed by police yesterday but if hired, they are not likely to disappear any time soon. With the final date of submitting nomination now being on 28 November, and allocation of seats to candidates belonging to alliance parties still to be completed, further changes in the names of candidates can be expected in the coming days. To sum up, though not perfect and wholly transparent, a departure has been made by Awami League in nominating candidates this time around. A good number of new candidates have been introduced who may bring in a breath of fresh air in politics of old vintage.

BNP has not made any declaration about nomination as it is yet to decide about participation in the election. After the meeting with the government last Friday, the party is expected to take a positive decision in the next few days. According to reports, the party has already prepared draft nominations of candidates, based on recommendation from Divisional branches of the party. A private research organisation reportedly prepared a list of candidates after a field survey. If BNP decides to participate in the election, which is very likely, this report may be taken into consideration. The report gave importance to the views of people about the reputation of potential candidates and can be a guide for the decision makers. This is the first time that a research and survey by an independent body has been undertaken to find out the details of political leaders and it may become a regular practice of political parties in future.

BNP is trying hard to get emergency withdrawn before nomination is submitted so that the convicted leaders can be nominated. But the CTG has taken a hard-line on this and has not conceded so far. At the end BNP may accept this as fait accompli and exclude the convicted leaders from nomination.

The expulsion of pro-reform leaders in BNP has been more pronounced and on a larger scale than Awami League. All the leaders who were in favour of reform have been expelled, some of whom were party stalwarts and senior office holders. BNP party chief has been more unforgiving of her critics than the Awami League chief. She could rise in stature and the party would have benefited if the pro-reform leaders were forgiven and rehabilitated. Given these changes i.e. the exclusion of convicted and ousted leaders, there will be new faces as candidates of BNP in the next election. It is reported in a Bengali daily that a good number of applications from retired officials of a particular government service has been received by the party, as has been the case with Awami League, though in the latter case it is now more concrete. Again, this may be a coincidence or part of a plan for political reform. In any case, this new phenomenon has given rise to intense speculation. If the introduction of new leaders is part of a plan, it will change political culture significantly.