5th Phase UP Polls End with Record Uncontested Wins

In the first five steps of this year's Union Parishad elections, there is a record of becoming a people's representative uncontested. On the one hand, there are questions in the minds of the people about the victory of 1600 candidates including 360 chairmen uncontested, on the other hand, local government experts say that such a victory of such a large number of candidates proves that the electoral system has collapsed. Even a member of the Election Commission himself thinks that such incidents are against the structure of democracy.

The number of uncontested winners in the Union Parishad elections says that the image of the grassroots election is now just a memory. A few days ago, the Election Commission (EC) announced the schedule for the sixth phase. In the previous five steps, a total of 1,600 people have been elected without contest. 360 people have won the post of chairman uncontested. All but one of them are nominated by the ruling Awami League. If there is no other candidate, there is no legal impediment to declaring the winner without contest. However, as a large number of people's representatives were elected uncontested, serious questions have been raised about the electoral system of the country.

Local government experts say the fact that so many uncontested candidates have won is evidence of the country's electoral system collapsing and the government must take its responsibility.

Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukder has said that it is not appropriate to encourage uncontested elections in a democratic state. He said a culture of being elected without contest has developed in the country. If the election process changes, this situation will have to be reconsidered. Those who will be in charge of the Election Commission in the future will surely consider these issues. He said that everything will be done by the Election Commission to make the upcoming elections smooth.

In the Union Parishad elections held in five stages so far, 360 people have won uncontested for the post of chairman, 858 for general membership and 364 for reserved women members. Another 219 UP polls will be held on January 31 in the sixth phase.