The Congress campaign for the upcoming by-election to the Rajabala Assembly constituency received a massive boost after Dr Mizanur Rehman Kazi, who was one of the runners-up in 2018 as a National People’s Party (NPP) candidate, decided to support the Congress this time around.
Dr Kazi had finished only in fourth place in 2018 but still managed to carry 5,178 votes and his support could help the Congress candidate, Hasina Yashmin Mondal, the widow of the late sitting MLA Dr Azad Zaman.
Dr Zaman had won 7,420 votes three years ago to claim victory.
“I have decided to support the Congress candidate and have no desire to contest the elections this time. Our supporters are happy with the decision and our campaign is being received very positively,” Dr Kazi, who had also contested unsuccessfully in 2013, said.
While details on what happened between him and the NPP, which he joined in 2018, are still unclear, the NPP decided to give a ticket to former Mahendraganj MLA Abdus Saleh. In 2018, Saleh had been in the fray for Rajabala but came third with 5,891 votes.
The same day that the NPP’s choice was announced, Dr Kazi was seen campaigning for the Congress.
Not being a local of the Rajabala area is what, ostensibly, has displeased Dr Kazi.
“It has always been my principle that Rajabala should be represented by an eligible local candidate. The manner in which the party (NPP) high command has finalised an outsider as the party’s candidate was undemocratic and goes against the sentiments of the local people. Therefore, [local NPP workers and the common man] decided to support our local candidate (Mondal),” Dr Kazi said.
The Rajabala by-poll has been necessitated by the death of Dr Zaman from cardiac arrest. Dr Kazi expressed confidence that the public are fully behind the late legislator’s widow.
Other contenders for the election are the BJP’s Kingstone B Marak. Another ex-Congressman, Ashahel D Shira, has also expressed his keenness to contest, though the matter is yet to be finalised. Shira had won the 2013 election but finished second to Dr Zaman five years later. The United Democratic Party is also keen to throw its hat into the ring, though the party is yet to announce its candidate.
