“The nominations of our around 80 candidates, including Khaleda Zia, were cancelled during today’s (Sunday’s) scrutiny. I think the opposition was pushed out of the election through it,” said 20-party chief coordinator Oli Ahmed.

Talking to reporters after a meeting of the BNP-led 20-party alliance at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, he further said, “It means they (AL) have taken forward their path of victory. If it continues, it may not be possible for us to stay in the election till the last.”

Oli, also the president of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), said they have taken part in the polls to remain till the last day. “But now how will we be there in the race if we don’t have candidates as 80 ones have already been declared ineligible?”

Besides, he said, their party leaders and activists cannot stay in their houses and areas due to arrest and drive by the law enforcers. “There’s no election atmosphere and level-playing field. How will we hold the election if such arrest and intimidation continues? We want a clear announcement about it from the government.”   

The LDP chief said their candidates’ nominations were revoked on various excuses as the government wants to hold an uncompetitive election.

He said many candidates who resigned from their post of upazila chairman and submitted their resignation copies with their nomination papers. “But, their nominations were annulled showing an excuse that those were not accepted by the government.”

Oli said some candidates’ nominations were cancelled on charge of loan default, but many of them never took loan.

He also came down hard on the Election Commission for not taking any step as per their demands to ensure a level-playing field. “We don’t think this Commission has any power. It seems they they’re working as per the government’s orders, deceiving people.”

Earlier, the top leaders of the 20-party alliance had around an hour-long meeting where they discussed various issues relating to election, including seat sharing with BNP.