Gobinda Chandra Pramanik: Amidst the continuous atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh, a Hindu leader Gobind Chandra Pramanik is trying to win the public trust from the parliamentary seat of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the upcoming national elections.

General Secretary of the Central Committee of Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajote and senior advocate Gobind Chandra Pramanik is preparing to file nomination as an independent candidate from Gopalganj 3 (Kotalipada-Tungipada) seat in the elections to be held on February 12.

Nomination will be done on 28th December

According to the report of The Daily Star, he will file his nomination papers on December 28. Gobind Chandra Pramanik says that neither he has any connection with any political party nor has he ever been active in party politics. He said, “MPs elected from political parties are often unable to raise the problems of common people due to party discipline. I want to break this limitation and become the voice of the people.”

Other candidates for Hasina’s seat
Other prominent candidates for Hasina’s seat include BNP’s SM Jilani, National Citizen Party (NCP)’s Ariful Dariya, Jamaat-e-Islami’s MM Rezaul Karim, Gana Adhikar Parishad’s Abul Bashar, Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Maroof Sheikh, National People’s Party’s Sheikh Salauddin, Khilafat Majlis’s Oli Ahmed, and independent candidates Mohammad Habibur Rahman and Mohammad Anwar Hussain.

Increase in violence against minorities

After the departure of Sheikh Hasina last year, there was a power vacuum in Bangladesh, which radical groups took advantage of. This was followed by a surge in violence against minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindu, Christian, Sufi and Ahmadiyya Muslim communities. These groups sought to justify attacks on minorities by exploiting rising anti-India sentiment and pushing a radical Islamic agenda under the interim government led by Mohammad Yunus. At a meeting organized by the Minority Unity Front outside Dhaka’s Jatiya Press Club, minority leaders said inadequate investigation and lack of justice had created an atmosphere of fear and distrust in the country.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)’s displeasure for India Alliance before Bihar Assembly elections has given new political signals. Jharkhand government minister and Giridih MLA Sudivya Kumar Sonu made it clear in the press conference that JMM will not participate in the Bihar assembly elections.

Also, it will not campaign in favor of any candidate of the Grand Alliance. Now it remains to be seen whether the alliance of India Alliance will break in Jharkhand also.

JMM decided not to contest elections in Bihar

Sudivya Kumar said that this decision of the party was taken due to Congress and RJD not following the coalition dharma. He said that JMM was kept entangled in seat distribution and other arrangements in Bihar and at the last moment some such circumstances arose due to which JMM decided not to contest elections in Bihar. The minister alleged that just as Congress and RJD were given support and seats in Jharkhand while playing the role of elder brothers, similarly injustice was done to JMM in Bihar.

Congress did not take any clear stand in favor of JMM

Sudivya Kumar further said that Congress did not take any clear stand in favor of JMM nor did it take any initiative for mediation. For this reason, JMM took the step of not contesting elections in Bihar. He clarified that both RJD and Congress are responsible in this matter.

On October 18, JMM led by Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren had also announced to contest elections independently in Bihar. The party said that it will not be a part of any alliance and will field its candidates only from six assembly seats Chakai, Dhamdaha, Katoria, Manihari, Jamui and Peerpainti. JMM General Secretary Supremo Bhattacharya said that the party’s support base is continuously increasing in these border seats and their main focus will be to raise the issues of tribals and deprived classes prominently.

BJP took a dig at this decision of JMM

BJP state spokesperson Pratul Shah Dev said that JMM has set a new example of shamelessness by changing its stand in the last one week. First he ran away from Bengal, now he ran away from Bihar also. The whole incident reminds of ‘Bhaag JMM Bhaag’.

Analysts believe that JMM’s displeasure and dissatisfaction over seat distribution in Bihar can become a challenge for India Alliance in Jharkhand. The impact of this step will be seen not only in Bihar elections but also on the political situation of the alliance in Jharkhand. If there is no balance in the alliance then the possibility of India Alliance breaking in Jharkhand may also increase.

The dispute regarding leadership and ticket distribution within RJD is continuously increasing in Bihar. RJD’s women state president Ritu Jaiswal, opening a front against the party, has made it clear that if she is not given the ticket from Parihar, she will contest the elections as an independent candidate. He says that he has closely felt the soil of Parihar and the joys, sorrows, struggles and expectations of the people. Therefore, it is unacceptable for him to contest elections from any other constituency.

Ritu Jaiswal told that as soon as the discussion spread that she could be given ticket from Belsand instead of Parihar, the people of Parihar started sending her support messages through social media and phone. People had only one appeal – ‘Madam, don’t leave Parihar.’ This public support proved to be very important for him emotionally.

These people are responsible for the current situation of Parihar – Ritu Jaiswal

Ritu Jaiswal made it clear to the party leadership that not only the current BJP MLA Gayatri Devi but also the former MLA Dr. Ramchandra Purve is responsible for the current situation of Parihar. Dr. Purve had betrayed the party in the last assembly elections while being an MLC of RJD, due to which Ritu had to face defeat by a small margin.

If the party does not change its decision, independents will contest elections – Jaiswal

Ritu alleged that this time the party has given ticket to Dr. Purve’s daughter-in-law from Parihar, which she termed as a ‘reward’ for betrayal. He said that the development of the area and the expectations of the people are being ignored by such political moves. Ritu made it clear that she has clearly informed the party leadership that if the party does not change its decision, then she will contest the elections as an independent candidate from Parihar only. He said that this decision is not easy, but it also respects the voice of his mind and the feelings of the people of Parihar.

Jaiwal’s move can bring new movement in political career

Political analysts say that this step of Ritu Jaiswal may increase the challenge for RJD. If she contests the elections independently, the voting pattern and alliance equations may be affected. Despite the defeat in Sheohar Lok Sabha elections last year and the 2020 assembly elections, this bold step of Ritu can bring a new stir in her political career.

This whole matter has made it clear that the upcoming elections on Parihar Assembly seat are going to be very interesting and exciting, where the sentiments of the people and the strategies of the leaders will play a decisive role.