Mayor candidates from the ruling Awami League and the BNP are going to contest the May 15 Gazipur and Khulna city corporation polls under the banners of the 14-party and 20-party alliances respectively.

It's because the candidates from other partners in the coalitions have withdrawn their candidatures.

The mayor aspirants would be able to start polls campaign after the allocation of their electoral symbols today.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) said it had no plans to deploy army in the local government polls. Earlier, the BNP had demanded army deployment in the polls “so that voters can cast their votes”.

GAZIPUR POLLS

Independent candidate SM Sanaullah, backed by Jamaat-e-Islami, and Rashedul Hasan Rana, backed by Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Inu), pulled out of the mayoral race yesterday, which was the last day for withdrawing candidature.

A total of 36 candidates for different posts did the same in Gazipur City Corporation polls, said Returning Officer Rakib Uddin Mondal. Now, there are only seven mayoral aspirants while the number of councillor aspirants is 256.

The AL picked Jahangir Alam as its mayor candidate while the BNP chose Hasanuddin Sarkar.

SM Sanaullah, Ameer of Gazipur city Jamaat, told The Daily Star that he withdrew his candidature as per the decision of the party. He said he would work for the candidate chosen by the BNP-led 20-party combine.  

Rashedul Hasan Rana, president of Gazipur City Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Inu), said he would also campaign for the candidate of the AL-led 14-party alliance.  

The returning officer said one ward councillor candidate, Mazharul Islam Dipu, was elected uncontested as the other candidates withdrew from the race.

KHULNA POLLS

In Khulna City Corporation elections, five contenders will vie for the mayor post as none of them has withdrawn their candidature.

They include Talukder Abdul Khaleque of AL, Nazrul Islam Manju of BNP, Mizanur Rahman of CPB and Mawlana Muzammel of Islami Andolon.

As many as 34 candidates for the councillors' posts withdrew candidature.

In the previous city polls in Gazipur and Khulna in 2013, BNP- backed candidates won the mayoral race.

Meanwhile, AL leaders yesterday placed a proposal to the EC, urging it to allow lawmakers to participate in polls campaign. In response, the commission said it was considering the proposal “positively”. The BNP, on the other hand, is against the move as it believes it will not ensure a level-playing field for all.