Already upset over the number of seats the Awami League is sharing for the upcoming general election, the ruling party’s allies finds themselves in a tighter spot as they seek withdrawal of AL’s independent candidates in the negotiated seats.

Some Awami League leaders told the Daily Sun that all issues will be settled by today, the last day for nomination withdrawal.

The AL’s ally Jatiya Party (JaPa) and alliance partners—Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad) and Jatiya Party (JP-Manju) have strongly objected to the issue of AL independents contesting, as they find it threatens their winning chances.

While the initial seat distribution talks appeared to end amicably, the 14-party alliance have expressed their reservations over the presence of AL independents.

But, the Awami League clearly announced that they will not compel independent candidates to withdraw their candidacy causing the discontent among the allies to intensify.

AL insiders said that the JaPa and the parties of the 14-party alliance have been pleased with the number seats negotiated except the issue of “independent candidates”. The demand for more seats may just be a matter of putting on political pressure.

The ruling Awami League has conceded only seven parliamentary seats for its allies of the 14-party alliance to contest in the upcoming parliamentary election.

Sources say, the AL may leave some 20-25 seats to JaPa as part of negotiation – the matter be clear after today’s nomination withdrawal deadline.

Meanwhile, some candidacies of the ruling party candidates have been cancelled in a few seats, which other political parties like Trinomool BNP, BNM, and the party leaving the BNP alliance – Kalyan Party, are taking as “indirect assurance” from the ruling party.

Talking to the Daily Sun, Hasanul Huq Inu said, “We are demanding more seats and removal of Awami League independent candidates from the shared seats. We are talking with the party leaders including its chief Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over our demands.”

Meanwhile, JaPa Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu on Saturday told the media that the focus is on the election not on any alliances.

“However, discussions with the Awami League are being held over the strategy of a fair election and will continue till the election,” Chunnu added.

As of writing the report, JaPa was yet to reach any consensus with the Awami League over seat sharing.

Chunnu said, “We will take part elections in all the constituencies. We will not withdraw any candidates and fight in all the seats.”

Earlier, during a 4 December meeting at Ganabhaban with the Prime Minister and AL President Sheikh Hasina, the partners of 14-party alliance reached the consensus to contest the polls as an alliance and with the AL’s symbol “Boat”.

At the meeting, the AL formed a committee with four leaders – Amir Hossain Amu, Obaidul Quader, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and AFM Bahauddin Nasim – to work on the number of seats to be shared with the allies.

The members of the committee continue to talk further with the 14-party alliance members to negotiate the number of seats.

Same procedure was followed during seat negotiation with JaPa and the same AL committee also sat with JaPa several times.

JaPa, however, will contest election with their party symbol—Plough—in the negotiated seats along with other seats.

AL leaders say their [independents] participation is helpful in making the election festive and inclusive.