18.The Daily Star Editorial-18-06-2013

Editorial
Poll results convey a serious message
1. AFTER the June 15 city corporation poll results, the prime minister is putting on a brave face.

2. However, she should not be deluded (বিভ্রান্ত করা)  into thinking that it is a passing show.

3. Of course, the government can take credit for ensuring conditions of a free and fair city corporation polls that saw a high voter turnout.

4. There was no administrative interference in the working of the EC.

5. But then this is not to be expected of a democratically elected government.

6. That said, she cannot make a short shrift (দায়) of the comprehensive defeat is not only the mayoral contests, but also in those of councillors.

7. Ruling party should go for soul-searching as to why its candidates failed despite the fact that during their mayoral tenure they had carried out impressive development work in their constituencies and they were also personally popular.

8. In other words, it is the party’s image that seems to have brought them down.

9. As for the prime minister’s contention in parliament on Sunday that the just concluded city polls have ‘proved there is no need for any unconstitutional regime (সরকার পদ্ধতি) to hold free and fair elections,’ it is an irony that she was not being seized of the expectations on the ground.

10. She should be able to face facts that by voting against her party candidates the electorate in a way has only expressed its no confidence in a government on however limited scale it may be.

11. The AL can ill-afford to ignore facts with only a few months left for the next general election.
Published: June 18, 2013