Ershad says his party will be deciding factor

H.M. Ershad, chairman of one of the three Jatiya Party factions, has claimed that both Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia will have to beg for his support to form the next government.

"My party will definitely be a deciding factor, since no party will emerge with single majority in the upcoming general election and as there will be no reserved seats in the next parliament," said the former president in an interview with The Daily Star. Ershad expects his party to bag all the 22 seats in greater Rangpur districts and if it does, "no one can ignore it".

He reiterated his claim, made at a public rally in Rangpur on Sunday, that he would become the next prime minister. "The people have already been under Awami League and BNP regimes for two consecutive terms. People now want a change. They want Jatiya Party back in power."

He expressed hope that his review petition against his conviction in a corruption case, now pending with the Supreme Court, would be upheld and "the judgment will be reviewed in my favour", and he would be able to run for parliament.

Ershad firmly believes that the faction loyal to him would "finally get the plough (election symbol of JP, now being claimed by other two factions)". He issued a warning that elections would not be allowed to take place in North Bengal, including greater Rangpur, if his party was not given the 'plough'.

Ershad said he had learnt a lesson from his party's alliance with the two major political parties.