Jatiya Party (JaPa) candidate for Habiganj-2 (Baniachong and Ajmiriganj upazilas) Shankar Pal withdrew from the race on Monday, citing the lack of a conducive environment for the election.

He came up with the announcement while talking to reporters at his constituency in the morning.

“There is a lack of a fair environment for the election. There is the influence of the muscle power of the ruling party (Awami League). It is difficult to protect the lives of ownself and supporters in the way clashes are going on in different parts of the country.  So I refrained from campaigning in Baniachong-Ajmiriganj,” he said.

Shankar informed that he has already asked his fellows to cast vote for any of their chosen candidates except him.

He said he is not the kind of person to seek votes by printing Awami League-backed posters on JaPa's nomination.

Asking to know the position of his party, he said votes can’t be sought from the common people with the support of Awami League.

Criticising the top leaders of his party, Shankar alleged that his agents were harassed in many ways and police took them away from the shops without any reason during the last election.

He claimed that he is yet to receive an answer in this regard and threw a question asking where is the guarantee that it won’t happen in this election?

In a recent view exchange meeting with Election Commissioner Anisur Rahman, he said, “I am not a candidate for election.  I want to see how fair and neutral you (EC) are doing in the election. If there is a fair election, I will contest the next election.”

Mentionable, nine more candidates including current MP Advocate Abdul Mujid Khan as independent candidate and Awami League-nominated candidate Maizuddin Sharif are contesting from the seat in the January 7 election.

As the official last date for withdrawal through the EC has already passed, Shankar would still appear on the ballot with the JaPa electoral symbol on January 7.