Mirza Abbas says 'vote engineering' failed to override people’s mandate
He questioned the high vote count of his nearest rival, NCP candidate Mohammad Nasir Uddin Patwary
BNP senior leader and Dhaka-8 MP-elect Mirza Abbas on Friday said that despite attempts at 'vote engineering' by his main rival, they failed to override the people's mandate.
"A group tried to divert votes through cunning tactics, but their efforts were defeated by public support," he said.
After visiting his family graveyard in Shahjahanpur following Jummah prayers, Abbas alleged that many ballots in his favour were unfairly cancelled.
He also questioned the high vote count of his nearest rival, NCP candidate Mohammad Nasir Uddin Patwary.
"They have no real public support, so how did they get so many votes? This shows manipulation behind the scenes," he said, adding that the NCP candidate had prepared for this in advance.
Abbas warned that such tactics are dangerous for the nation and a bad sign. On a possible re-count, he said, "Any decision lies entirely with the Election Commission. If they see it necessary, they can act."
He urged BNP activists to remain calm. "I am pleased with BNP's decisive victory, and the people are happy. Citizens voted with joy," he said.
Unofficial results show Abbas with 59,366 votes, while Patwary received 54,127.
