Manama: Liberals yesterday started the gloomy task of coming to terms with the political tsunami that struck Bahrain on Saturday.
Islamist candidates in the kingdom stampeded to victory in the parliamentary and municipal elections and blanketed secularists.
The 24 to nil result for Islamists against liberals in the first round is viewed by Bahrainis as a repudiation of the left-leaning political formations interaction with the common citizens at a time when sectarianism is becoming the order of the day in the region.
Iraq, Egypt and Palestine have given vociferous potential to Islamists in their national elections. "We have repeatedly warned against a sectarian alignment in society that will be reflected in parliament. Unfortunately, the splitting of the vote between Shiites and Sunnis and the losses by women and liberals confirm our worst fears," Democratic Progressive Menbar Secretary-General Dr Hassan Madan said in a statement.
"We are now concerned that the parliament will wade into sectarian controversies and will shun social issues of significance to the people." Many observers believe that the MPs will see themselves as Sunni or Shiite, and not as representatives of the people.
Madan, a veteran politician, said that the growing religious aspects of the regional conflicts could lead to the reinforcement of sectarian divisions within the parliament and the erosion of national cohesion.
"I really wished the opposition has a single list because it would have meant a national message that would shun division and strengthen national unity," he said.
Al Wefaq leader Shaikh Ali Salman told Gulf News that his society would initially focus on issues that would be acceptable to the Sunni MPs.
Four liberals will be among the 22 candidates to battle in the round-off on Saturday for seats in the lower house, but they will face tough competition from Islamists keen on completing the Islamist sweep.
