NCP ready to accept 'Shapla Koli' as electoral symbol: Patwary after meeting with CEC
NCP plans to field candidates in all 300 constituencies in the upcoming national election, he says
Highlights:
- Nasiruddin Patwary says NCP is ready to accept 'Shapla Koli' as its electoral symbol
- Statement comes after meeting with CEC AMM Nasir Uddin at Nirbachan Bhaban
- NCP has applied for 'Shapla,' 'White Shapla' and 'Shapla Koli' symbols
- Nasiruddin says there will be tight contest between 'Dhaner Sheesh' and 'Shapla Koli' in upcoming polls
- On referendum issue, he says party will accept it either before or on election day
National Citizen Party Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said today (2 November) that the NCP is prepared to take "Shapla Koli" (water lily bud) as its official electoral symbol.
Watch:
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
The NCP leader's statement to the press came after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at Nirbachan Bhaban, following repeated demands for months for the "Shapla" (water lily) symbol.
Nasiruddin said that the party will accept the "Shapla Koli" as its election symbol if the Election Commission grants it, adding that the NCP formally applied to the EC for the symbol today.
Even hours earlier, before the meeting took place, NCP Convener Nahid Islam, at a press conference today, said, "The decision regarding the 'Shapla' could have been made a month ago. We want the Shapla."
He also alleged that the EC was creating obstacles for the new party instead of providing cooperation.
Meanwhile, Nasiruddin said, "Today we have applied for the 'Shapla,' 'White Shapla' and 'Shapla Koli' symbols. In the greater interest, we will accept the 'Shapla Koli' as our election symbol."
Asked about possibility to join alliance with the BNP, Nasiruddin said the NCP plans to field candidates in all 300 constituencies in the next parliamentary election.
He added that in the upcoming election, there will be a tight contest between the "Dhaner Sheesh" (sheaf of paddy), which is the electoral symbol of the BNP, and the "Shapla Koli."
"We can call the Election Commission an engineering commission in this context," he said in response to a question, without elaborating further.
On the question of a referendum on the July Charter, he said the party will accept it if the national election and the referendum are held on the same day, adding that it also has no objection if the referendum takes place before the election.
Nahid also said earlier in the day that the referendum could take place on election day, depending on the government's capacity, but added that it would be better if the referendum is held before the polls.
The Election Commission has not allocated the "Shapla" symbol to any party, citing that it is not in its election management rules.
Last Thursday (30 October), a notification signed by EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed published the official list of symbols for registered political parties and independent candidates, which included the "Shapla Koli" (water lily bud).
Ahead of the 13th parliamentary election, the EC has decided to register two parties, including the NCP, and is currently in the process of issuing a notification to check for any objections to the move.
