As the Mymensingh city gears up for its upcoming city corporation polls scheduled for 9 March, residents are anticipating a triangular battle for the mayoral post, with former mayor Ekramul Haque Titu holding a strong position among the contenders.

Five candidates are vying for the mayoral post in the city polls, including Mymensingh City Awami League (AL) President Ekramul Haque Titu (Clock symbol), district AL President Ehteshamul Alam (Horse symbol), former president of city AL Advocate Sadek Khan Milki Toju (Elephant symbol), former member of central Krishak League Rezaul Haque (Deer symbol), and district Jatiya Party Joint General Secretary Shahidul Islam Swapan Mandal (Plough symbol).

However, observations from various parts of the city indicate that the main contest will unfold among three ruling party leaders – Ekramul Haque Titu, Toju Milki, and Ehteshamul Alam. Among them, former mayor Titu appears to be slightly ahead in the race.

The discord within Mymensingh City AL, which surfaced during the 12th general elections, has resurfaced, particularly concerning the Mymensingh City Corporation elections.

Supporters of Mohit Ur Rahman Shanto, Member of Parliament from Mymensingh-4 (Sadar) constituency and city AL general secretary, have thrown their weight behind advocate Sadekul Haque Khan Milki Toju, a mayoral candidate representing the elephant symbol, challenging city AL President Ekramul Haque Titu.

Aminul Haque Shamim, Titu’s elder brother and district AL vice-president, entered the fray as an independent candidate with the Truck symbol against the AL-nominated candidate Mohit Ur Rahman Shanto. Initially, Titu supported Shanto as the party candidate. However, when Shamim contested independently against Shanto, Titu withdrew his support, sparking conflict between them.

The dilemma among Mohit Ur Rahman Shanto’s followers regarding support for Ehteshamul Alam and Toju Milki in the Mymensingh City Corporation polls seemed to clear when a procession led by Russell Pathan, joint general secretary of city Jubo League and a known associate of Shanto, voiced support for Sadekul Haque Khan Milki Toju. This bolstered the election campaign of Toju’s Elephant symbol.

Russell Pathan remarked during a rally after the procession that those who supported the Boat symbol in the last national election are now largely backing the Elephant symbol in the city polls.

However, according to party sources, direct endorsement by lawmaker Mohit Ur Rahman Shanto for any candidate would breach the election code of conduct. Hence, his activists, followers, and most party leaders are rallying behind Toju Milki.

Despite the divided support among party leaders and activists, former mayor Ekramul Haque Titu enjoys strong popularity among the general voters.

Musfiq Talukder, a voter of the Mymensingh City Corporation, expressed, “Evaluation of development works in the city favours former mayor Titu. His popularity resonates across every corner of the city.”

Titu, associating the Clock symbol with development, affirmed, “City dwellers will once again entrust this symbol to continue the unfinished work of development. While 100% development was not achieved in the last five years, I can ensure completion of ongoing projects with people’s support.”

Meanwhile, Ehteshamul Alam, district AL president, emphasised, “People aspire for change to transform the neglected city systematically.”

Toju Milki, representing the Elephant symbol, stressed his commitment to party decisions and highlighted his resolve to address city dwellers’ aspirations for cleanliness and traffic management.

With a total of 3,36,496 voters, including 1,63,832 men, 1,72,655 women, and nine third-gender, the election will take place across 128 centres using electronic voting machines (EVMs) on 9 March.

In addition to the mayoral candidates, 69 candidates are contesting for general councillor posts and 11 reserved women councillor positions across 33 wards of the city. Farhad Alam has been elected unopposed as a councillor in Ward 11.

Mymensingh people believe that as Mymensingh prepares for the city corporation polls, the competition intensifies among key contenders, with the outcome likely to shape the city’s future trajectory significantly.