Bobby Hajjaj, special adviser to Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, yesterday declared his mayoral candidacy for the upcoming Dhaka North City Corporation polls.

His announcement came despite the party's decision to back its Dhaka city (north) unit General Secretary Bahauddin Ahmed Babul in the race.

At a press conference, Hajjaj, son of business tycoon Moosa Bin Shamser, made the announcement at his Banani office.

Elections to Dhaka and Chittagong city corporations will be held on April 28.

"JP Chairman HM Ershad is like a father to me, and I will try to get his advice and suggestions. I hope his blessing is with me and will always be," he told a journalist.

"I am declaring myself an independent candidate for the upcoming Dhaka North City Corporation polls as it is a non-partisan election," he added.

"I was born in Dhaka. So, I want to take care of the capital," said Hajjaj.

Meanwhile, in a statement yesterday, Nagorik Oikya said its convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, who is now behind bars in a sedition case, would contest for the mayoral post in Dhaka north, and its leaders and activists would work whole-heartedly to secure his victory.