পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বিতীয় খণ্ড).pdf/৮১

উইকিসংকলন থেকে
এই পাতাটির মুদ্রণ সংশোধন করা হয়েছে, কিন্তু বৈধকরণ করা হয়নি।
বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ দ্বিতীয় খণ্ড
54

 (b) Wider powers of the new Union Councils and the consequent desire of a larger number of people to share the power and fruits thereof.

 (c) These institutions being the only elective bodies for the present the normal democratic urge of the people was intensified.

 (d) Social or family rivalries played a great part in making the contest keen.

 (e) That section of the population which used to remain passive and neutral for fear of political reprisals or victimization could also exercise the right of franchise under the present tranquil atmosphere.

 (e) The Female voters went to the polls in larger number because of the proximity to polling centers and the elimination of women-teasers.

Role of various groups of in the election:

Minorities. The Hindu Mahasavha fought the elections in an organized manner and put up their candidates in Hindu majority areas and also in places where Hindu had a balancing vote. The Congress perhaps did not put up candidates as a party but they either lent support to other Hindu candidates or engineered election alignments on the quiet with defunct NAP and other miscellaneous disgruntled elements. In comparison with the past Union Board elections the number of Hindu candidates elected uncontested is larger as also the number of candidates elected after contest. This was due to two main reasons:

(a) in multi-member wards they only put one candidate and they all voted for him. Generally, there was no contest among Hindu candidates and they maintained solidarity of their votes against rival Muslim candidates.
(b)In areas where they had a balancing vote they lent support to candidates other than those who belong to rightist groups. (This has all along been the attitude of the Hindus in the province. They support among Muslims the leftist and the disgruntled elements).

 Communist.- The Communists did not put up marked party members as candidates. In some cases they put up unmarked and unknown party supporters but in most cases they lent support to such candidates who had no affiliations in the past with any rightist group. Such candidates have also the support of Hindus, although for different reasons.

 NAP.- The NAP ultimately decided to contest the elections and they join hands both with the Communists and the Hindus as it suited them. They were not however able to put up their own candidates in substantial numbers, but like the communists they lent support to those who from their point of view were less unacceptable to them.

 The likely intention of both the communists and the NAP in trying to find a foothold in the Union Council is to have a group of people whom they could utilize in creating disaffection against Government when the Councils start functioning. The line they would probably take will be to pinpoint the inadequacy of funds at the disposal of the Councils and the absence of any real powers in them. They will try to shift the scene of