More than a dozen aspirants of ruling Awami League are lobbying with top leaders to get nomination as mayoral candidate in the upcoming Rangpur City Corporation election, according to local leaders.

On the other hand, while the Jatiya Party already announced its candidate, BNP is yet to decide whether to take part in the election or boycott it.

Last week, JP President HM Ershad nominated Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa, president of the party's Rangpur city unit, as mayoral candidate.

Mostafa was a former chairman of Rangpur sadar upazila.

He is a dedicated leader, and he would get full support of the party, said SM Yasin, general secretary of Rangpur city JP.

According to party insiders of AL, over a dozen leaders including incumbent mayor Sharfuddin Ahmed Jhantu are trying to get party ticket.

Jhantu is an advisory member of Rangpur district AL.

Also seeking party blessings are central AL adviser Chowdhury Khalequzzaman, freedom fighter and AL member Mosaddeq Hossain Bablu, president of Rangpur city AL Safiar Rahman Safi, its general secretary Tushar Kanti Mondal, assistant secretary of sub-committee of central AL Rasheq Rahman, treasurer of district AL Abul Kashem, law affairs secretary of district AL Rathish Chandra Bhowmik Babu Monar, publicity and publication affairs secretary of city AL Rezaul Islam Milon, AL member Prof Dr Joynul Abedin Sarkar, president of city Sweschchhasebak League Ataur Zaman Babu, and former mayor of now defunct Rangpur Municipality Abdur Rauf Manik.

Insiders of both JP and AL said there might be several rebel candidates.

Meanwhile, local BNP leaders said the decision on joining the election was not finalised yet, but the party might boycott it.

BNP organising secretary for Rangpur region Asadul Habib Dula, however, said local leaders were taking preparations for the polls.

According to BNP insiders, prospective aspirants include president of Rangpur city BNP Mozaffar Hossain, its general secretary Shahidul Islam Mizu, its vice president Kawsar Zaman Babla, its former general secretary Samsuzzaman Samu, president of district Jubo Dal Nazmul Alam Nazu, and its general secretary Rois Ahmed.

Talking to The Daily Star, Rangpur city BNP general secretary Shahidul Islam Mizu claimed that one of the reasons the party could not take a decision yet was dedicated leaders and activists were on the run to escape "political harassment" and most of the party top leaders were still in jail now.

Without them, the party cannot run electoral campaign, he said.