Low turnout of voters in the last three phases of the Upazila Parishad polls has put the ruling Awami League in an uneasy situation.
With a view to making the polls open, the party abstained from fielding any candidate with its electoral symbol Boat but despite its sincere efforts, the poor turnout embarrassed the top brass, insiders say.
The party, however, heaves a sigh of relief as major incidents of violence did not take place during the polls, they say.
Talking to the Bangladesh Post, some central leaders say that they are working hard to draw the voters in a large number to the polling centres in the last phase of polls slated for June 5.
AL presidium member Pijush Kanti Bhattacharjee told the Bangladesh Post that they are very much concerned about the poor turnout of voters.
“We are seriously looking into the issue. Leaders concerned are working so that voters throng the polling centres,” he said.
Record shows the average voter turnout for the first phase of the sixth edition of Upazila Parishad elections was 36.1 percent, 37.57 per cent in second phase and 36.24 per cent in the third phase. Sources say that top brass of the party raised eyebrows over the turnout despite campaigns for drawing the voters to polling booths.
AL organising secretary Afzal Hossain said that they were working organisationally to increase the turnout of voters.
“Directives have already been sent to the grassroots asking them to work unitedly,” he said.
Insiders, however, attributed the low turnout to the intra-party conflict as offspring and kin of lawmakers and ministers contested the polls defying the party directives.
The AL directed the offspring and kin of the ministers and party lawmakers to stay off the Upazila Parishad polls.
It has also issued a note of warning for taking special organisational actions if anyone of them participates in the polls or any minister or lawmaker extends support to them defying the directives of the top brass of the party.
But, ignoring the directives, several dozens of the offspring and kin of the MPs and ministers vied in the race. Majority of the candidates, blessed by the MPs and ministers won the polls while younger brother of AL general secretary Obaidul Quader, cousins of former minister Abdur Razzaque, brother of former minister AHM Mostafa Kamal, brother and nephew of deputy Speaker Shamsul Haque Tuku and nephew of former state minister AB Tajul Islam suffered defeat in the polls.
In the first phase polls, at least 16 offspring and kin of MPs and ministers took part in the polls. Of them 10 became victorious while six were defeated. As many as 13 offspring and kin of MPs and ministers won the second phase while six were defeated while 10 won the third phase polls and six relatives suffered the defeat.
