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Jatiya Party of former president HM Ershad is learnt to be bargaining with both the Awami League and the BNP over the forthcoming electoral alliance, reports BDNEWS.
Competent sources said a big chunk of the party led by Rowshan Ershad is willing to join the ruling four-party alliance, while Chairman Ershad is reportedly in favour of alliance with the Awami League.
The JP chairman, however, pooh-poohed the idea and told the agency "it is hundred per cent wrong."
A source said the party is now bargaining with both the mainstream parties to form the electoral alliance.
Ershad reportedly told his party men that the JP would join any of the present alliance before the next election.
When contacted Ershad avoided a direct reply and told the agency that 'there is plenty of time and no one can say what will happen in future.'
'JP will take part in the election and if necessary it will go alone,' the former president said emphatically.
Meanwhile, Ershad, has started taking interviews of would-be JP candidates from October 2 for the 2006 parliamentary election. It might be his tactical move to go alone in case he fails to forge alliance with any of the mainstream parties, sources believe.
Till now, Ershad has taken interviews of candidates of five northern districts over the past three days.
He took interviews of aspirants for the different constituencies of Nilphamari and Pabna Sunday.
Candidates from Panchagarh and Thakurgaon and from Dinajpur districts were interviewed on October 2 and 3.
A total of 40 candidates have been so far interviewed.
Concerned sources said Ershad termed the interviews a preparatory work for the next election.
A JP leader who has already been interviewed told that nomination is not the focal point of the interview; rather, it is intended to gather information about the party's condition at the district level and at the same time to make sure of the economical conditions of the aspirants.
On taking interview, Ershad said 'it is not a final selection, rather a preliminary one'.
Another JP leader, however, said it is now pretty sure JP will not take part in the election alone. During interview Ershad had already informed the aspirants of joining any of the alliances without mentioning the name of any alliance.
Ershad, however, is willing to join the opposition alliance. But the leaders would not like to disclose anything at present.
JP will clear its stance only after the caretaker government assumes the power, the sources said.
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