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Posts tagged as “elections”

Tensions mount among opposition parties over India’s message to the US

by Salman Tarek Shakil in Dhaka Tribune, Aug 20, 2023*New Delhi says weak Awami League not beneficial**Opposition parties express distrust towards India***Internal BNP divisions on interpreting India’s stance****GM Quader to visit India about elections*****BNP plans mass gathering on September 1An article published in the prominent Indian newspaper, Anandabazar Patrika, has sparked controversy and unrest among the opposition parties in Bangladesh. Leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and several allied parties addressed the “India issue”…

PPP, JI senators term ECP decision to delay elections ‘unconstitutional’

Report in Pakistan Today,August 19, 2023ISLAMABAD: The senators of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) spoke against the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to carry out new delimitations, saying that it was “unconstitutional” as the electoral body is bound to hold elections within 90 days. A day earlier, the poll organising authority announced the schedule of new delimitations to be carried out as per the new census approved by the Council of Common…

Free, Fair Polls: US rights bodies urge sanctions, other steps

report in The Daily Star, Aug 117, 2023Rights bodies in the US called for policy tools, including additional sanctions, for ensuring free and fair elections in Bangladesh. Political violence remains high, competing political rallies result in clashes, and the opposition’s demonstrations often face crackdowns, they said. The call was made at a briefing hosted by Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, a bipartisan body of the US House of Representatives, on the human rights situation in…

New behind-the-scenes moves to support the President for next year’s elections

By Political Editor in The Sunday Times, July 30, 2023 *As UNP appoints committees to revive party at grassroots level; broader alliance planned with like-minded parties and groups **Lanza’s new party on a mission to win support for Wickremesinghe among SLPP and ‘independent’ MPs……. Behind-the-scenes activity, particularly those initiated by President Wickremesinghe, still retains the focus on a presidential poll. Of course, the aim is to hold it next year. One step is a move…

Caste-based discrimination persists despite being outlawed in Nepali society

by Rupa Gahatraj in The Kathmandu Post, updated July 28, 2023 Dhanakali Sunar has been discriminated against all her life for being born into a Dalit family. When Sunar was elected a ward member of Baijanath Rural Municipality-1 in the last local elections, she thought her perseverance had won over discrimination and that she could now lead a respectable life alongside her neighbours. But she was proven wrong on the evening of July 2 when…

‘Nepali Congress should neither be nervous nor complacent’:

By Anil Giri & Nishan Khatiwada in The Kathmandu Post, June 26, 2023The writer is a reporter covering national politics for The Kathmandu Post.Nepali Congress Central Committee Member Minendra Rijal is reputed for his straight and scholarly take on issues of national interest. He is also a strong internal critic of the Congress. The Post’s Anil Giri and Nishan Khatiwada sat down with him to discuss recent rumours about a change in ruling coalition as…

Islami Andolon won’t participate in any elections under Awami League govt

report in Prothom Alo, 22 June 2023Islami Andolon Bangladesh brought out a road march towards the election commission (EC) on Wednesday, demanding its dissolution and the resignation of the chief election commissioner (CEC) Habibul Awal. The rally was scheduled to begin at 10:00 am from the Baitul Mukarram area in Dhaka. But it started around 12:00 pm with hundreds of leaders and activists. When it reached Shantinagar intersection around 12:20 pm marching via Paltan and…

SJB tells govt: Elections not prerogative of President

By Shamindra Ferdinando in The Island, June 19, 2023Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) lawmaker Harshana Rajakaruna yesterday (18) said that calling of regular elections couldn’t be under any circumstances the prerogative of any President.Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), still the party with the largest group in Parliament, should be ashamed of its response to President Ranil Wickremesinghe putting off the Local Government polls indefinitely, the SJB MP said in response to The Island query regarding Chief…

Dialogue not on AL’s mind at the moment

by Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee in The Daily Star, Jun 8, 2023The Awami League at this point is not considering talks with the BNP to solve the current political impasse over the next general elections. According to AL sources, the party believes this is not the time to invite the BNP for talks and that dialogue with the BNP will never bear any fruit as the lattar’s main demand is the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh…

Awami League to focus on city polls and BNP’s movement simultaneously

by Anowar Hossain in Prothom Alo, May 19, 2023Awami League wants to ensure victory of its candidates in upcoming elections to five city corporations and simultaneously keep control of the streets in the face of agitation of the opposition parties. AL would continue its counter movement if BNP creates any anti-government agitation. However, the ruling party would focus more on city corporation elections if BNP does not take to the streets in this time. The…

Six months after elections, provincial governments are still incomplete:

By Nishan Khatiwada in The Kathmandu Post, May 18, 2023Six months following the last major polls, the provincial governments are yet to get a full shape. In Lumbini, two ministers without portfolios have yet to be assigned ministries. Chief Minister Dilli Chaudhary of Nepali Congress has been trying to complete the government but to no avail. The Congress is yet to finalise its ministerial nominees, resulting in the delay. On Monday, Chief Minister of Sudurpaschim…