Jatiya Party (JP) Acting Chairman GM Quader today said that he wants to bring a qualitative change in the party politics instead of establishing the reign of totalitarianism.

“I didn’t come in politics to materialise the reign of authoritarianism rather I do politics for upholding people’s interest,” Quader said while talking to newsmen at the party Chairman HM Ershad’s Banani office in Dhaka this noon.

JP leader said, “Many people see politics as a business, but we see it with the mentality of serving the people’s interest.”

Calling upon all rank and file of the party to get united, Quader, also the younger brother of former autocratic ruler HM Ershad, said that he would work to strengthen the JP upholding opinions to come from the party men.

Responding to a journalist’s query, Quader categorically said that there is no rift in the party now and it will stand on strong ground in future politics.

In a dramatic turn of events in Jatiya Party, Chairman HM Ershad appointed his brother GM Quader acting chairman of the party on May 5.

At an emergency press conference at his Baridhara home, Ershad, who has been suffering from old-age ailments for the last six months, announced that the daily activities of the Jatiya Party were being hampered due to his ailments.

“That’s why I am appointing Jatiya Party co-chairman GM Quader MP as acting chairman of the party to carry out the job until further notice,” said Ershad, 89, looked weak and sick at the briefing.

Ershad has been almost inactive in the party for the past six months. He joined only one parliament sitting out of 26 of the 11th parliament’s first session. He took part in no sittings of the second session that ended on April 30.

In the last four months, Ershad announced at least four times that GM Quader would act as the party’s chairman in his absence or when he goes abroad for treatment.

On March 22, he relieved his brother from the post of JP co-chair, saying that Quader failed to discharge his duties and created divisions within the party.

A day later, Quader was removed from the post of deputy leader of the opposition.

Twelve days later, Ershad in a statement reinstated him to the JP co-chair post.