The Awami League and its archrival BNP look to summon all their strength to ensure victory in the upcoming mayoral polls to six important city corporations as the elections will be a crucial test of their popularity ahead of the parliamentary polls.

The parties believe win in those elections would also boost their morale to a great extent and they would be able to go for the Jatiya Sangsad polls, scheduled for late next year, with an upbeat. 

Starting with the polls in Rangpur next month, elections to Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Barisal and Gazipur city corporations are lined up to take place by mid-2018.

Currently, the mayors of all the city corporations, except the one in Rangpur, are BNP leaders and the party would do its best to retain the posts. On the other hand, the AL would leave no stone unturned to ensure that their leaders secure victory.

The AL is doing some groundwork, including resolving intra-party feuds and trying to assess the popularity of possible candidates. The BNP may bank on the current mayors taking their popularity and acceptance among voters into consideration, said insiders in the parties.   

The AL leaders think intra-party feud might a big hurdle for the party as it has multiple contenders for the mayor post in every city corporation.

The party identified the same issue as the reason behind the defeat in the Comilla City Corporation polls on March 30 and stepped in to resolve party issues in the six cities where the polls are due. 

Besides, the party wants at least a gap of one month between the polls for taking preparations. Many AL leaders had blamed the defeat in the last polls in Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet and Barisal on lack of time for preparations as the elections were held on the same day.  

On Tuesday, Helaluddin Ahmed, acting secretary to the Election Commission, said the Rangpur City Corporation elections would be held on December 21 and the EC would declare the polls schedule today.

The commission is considering holding the rest of the city polls in the middle of next year.

Elections to the city corporations in Khulna, Rajshahi, Barisal and Sylhet were held on June 15, 2013 and all the AL-backed candidates were defeated. The party had another bitter experience in the Gazipur polls held on July 6 that year. 

However, AL-blessed candidate had secured victory in the maiden Rangpur City Corporation election, which took place on December 20, 2012.

The mayors are elected for five years.

Talking to The Daily Star, AL presidium member Kazi Zafarullah said they have taken the city corporation elections "very seriously" as the results would send a message to the party leaders and activists across the country.

“Defeat will weaken our morale while a win would be the total opposite. We will select the right candidates, take an all-out preparation and go for vigorous campaigns ahead of the polls," he said.

A senior BNP leader said, “It is very unlikely that the party will take any risk by nominating new faces in the six city corporation elections, which will be very crucial for the party ahead of the national polls.

“The elections are going to take place just months before the national polls and we will desperately try to ensure victory which would increase people's faith in BNP," said the standing committee leader, wishing not to be named.

Another BNP central leader said victory in the six city corporations would also inspire "our party men to continue their fight against the ongoing repression by the government".  

BNP's candidates in Rajshahi, Sylhet, Khulna and Gazipur city corporations would not be changed as they are considered "much stronger" than their rivals there, said party sources.

Besides, the mayors of three of the city corporations faced a huge trouble in discharging their duties because of several cases filed against them. They had to stay behind bars during most of their tenure. It might win them people's sympathy as an added benefit, added the sources.

The party's strategy might be different for the BNP-backed mayor in Barisal City Corporation, said some local leaders, adding that the mayor, Ahsan Habib Kamal, allegedly sided with the ruling party after his victory.

In Sylhet, three AL leaders are looking for the party ticket. They are city AL President Badar Uddin Ahmad Kamran, General Secretary Asad Uddin and district sports association General Secretary Mahiuddin Selim, who is close to Finance Minister AMA Muhith.

Current city mayor Ariful Huq Chowdhury, city unit BNP General Secretary Badruzzaman and district unit BNP General Secretary Nasim Hussain are the mayor aspirants from the BNP's side.

In Barisal, AL's politics is dominated by district AL President Abul Hasnat Abdullah and his son city AL Joint General Secretary Sadik Abdullah is still the lone mayor aspirant from there. Recently, the city AL announced his name as their candidate.

The BNP has three leaders seeking the party nomination. Incumbent mayor and central BNP leader Ahsan Habib Kamal, former city mayor and district BNP President Mojibar Rahman Sarwar and party leader Bilkis Jahan Shirin are vying for the party ticket.

In Khulna, Sadar AL President Saiful Islam, Khulna Chamber of Commerce president and first Khulna City Mayor Kazi Amin along with two cousins of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina -- Sheikh Sohel and Sheikh Jewel -- are contenders for the party nomination.

Besides, many AL leaders in the district believe the party would nominate former city mayor Talukdar Abdul Khalek, also lawmaker from Bagerhat-3 constituency, taking his "popularity" into consideration.

The AL in Khulna is split into two factions -- one led by district AL President Harun-or-Rashid and the other by General Secretary SM Mostafa Rashidi Suja. There are also conflicts between city unit AL acting president Mizanur Rahman Mizan, lawmaker from Khulna-2 constituency, and Khalek.

From the BNP's side, current mayor Moniruzzaman Moni and district BNP President Shafiqul Alam Mona would run in the nomination race.

In Rajshahi, city AL President AHM Khairuzzaman Liton and city unit Vice President Mir Iqbal are hopeful about getting party tickets. Rajshahi AL leaders think former city mayor Liton would have the last laugh.

Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul, also the city unit BNP president, and city BNP general secretary Shafiqul Haque Milon are the nomination hopefuls from their party.

At least 12 AL leaders are seeking party blessing for the mayoral polls to Rangpur City Corporation while the number of BNP leaders, wishing to contest the election, is just two.

The AL leaders include incumbent city mayor Sharfuddin Ahmed Jhantu, AL central leaders Chowdhury Khalequazzaman, Rashek Rahman, district AL Organising Secretary Abul Kasem, city AL President Safiur Rahman, General Secretary Tusher Kanti Mandol, Organising Secretary Rezaul Islam Milon and district unit AL leader Mosaddek Hossain Bablu.

Sources said AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader will visit Rangpur on November 8 and convince all the leaders to support the candidate to be named by the party.

District BNP General Secretary Rois Ahmed and city unit Vice President Kawsr Kamal Babla are seeking party ticket from the BNP's side.

In Gazipur, City AL President Azmat Ullah Khan, General Secretary Jahangir Alam and local Jubo League leader Kamrul Ashan Sarker Russel are hopeful about winning party ticket while incumbent city Mayor MA Mannan, advisor to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, and party executive member Hasan Sarker are vying for the party nomination.

In the last Gazipur city polls, held on July 6, 2013, Azmat Ullah Khan was the AL candidate while Jahangir Alam contested the polls as a party rebel.