The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Jatiya Party Chaiman HM Ershad is ready to stay with Awami League in the grand alliance, even, if he is not made president after winning the scheduled election on December 29.

The former president told the media yesterday adding that still he hoped to be the next president, as his biggest political ally promised it ahead of the foiled election of January 22, 2007.

Meanwhile, as the grand alliance leaders are discussing seat-sharing issues, Ershad wants to contest from three seats as AL President Sheikh Hasina will do in the ensuing general election, party insiders said. Jatia Party is also hopeful to bag more seats for this election than the previous time, its leader Ziauddin Bablu told reporters after a daylong meeting with Awami League leaders at the Dhanmondi office of Sheikh Hasina in her presence.

The JP has demanded 74 seats Bablu said adding, "Sheikh Hasina and Ershad are likely to contest the coming elections from three seats each."

JP acting Chairman Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud said, "In the 2007 agreement, the number of seats for Jatiya Party candidates from the grand alliance was 50. This time it may increase depending on the prospect of the candidates of both the parties to win."

At the daylong meeting, Anisul Islam said, they reviewed the prospect of candidates of both AL and JP to come out successful in the polls.

In the stalled January 22 election, Jatiya Party was given 50 seats following an agreement with Awami League.

Mahmud said JP and AL are working on the basis of an "understanding" reached ahead of the stalled elections of January 22, 2007.

Asked about their agreement with AL for making Ershad president, Mahmud said this issue and all other things relating to the elections will be settled today.

The JP leader said this time their main target would be to ensure the victory of the grand alliance. "Seat sharing is not the main concern. We'll do what will be good for the grand alliance."

Responding to a question, Mahmud said that the JP had submitted 280 nominations. "Once the matter of the seat distribution is finalised, candidates will withdraw their nomination."

However, the AL has nominated its candidates for the 300 seats and party leaders say they will withdraw nomination papers for the seats that will be given to the allies.

Other parties have already informed AL of their demands with Liberal Democratic Party and Jatiya Party (JP-Monju) demanding 30 and 12 seats respectively.

AL presidium members Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Matia Chowdhury and joint general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam were present in the meeting.