Voting for local government elections is underway in the UK, Tower Hamlets-Newham in East London under the watchful eyes of Bangladeshis
Photo Collected
Voting for local government elections is underway in the UK. Voting started from 7 am local time on Thursday and will continue till 10 pm. Voting is being held in 136 local authorities across England in this election. At the same time, the Scottish Parliament in Scotland and the Welsh Parliament in Wales are also being held.
On the ground, polling stations in Newham, Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge and Tower Hamlets have been visited, although there is no line in front of the center like in Bangladesh, there is a presence of voters. Voter turnout is slightly low as schools and offices-courts are open during the day. However, voter turnout may increase after the office holiday at the end of the day.
Six centers in Barking, Redbridge and Newham were visited between 12pm and 3pm local time today, with two to three voters entering the center every minute at Thames View Community Center in Barking. Voter turnout is higher there than other centres. At the Barking Rivergate Center, one voter was seen entering the polling station every five to seven minutes.
A similar picture at Six Avenue Primary School in Newham. However Elmerhast Primary School in Newham has a slightly higher turnout. Here at 2 pm one voter was seen entering the center every minute.
All 32 London boroughs (local authorities) are voting in today’s election. A total of 1 thousand 817 councilors will be elected in this election. At the same time, mayoral elections are being held in five boroughs of London, including Tower Hamlets and Newham in East London. There has been increased interest among Bangladeshis living in London around this election. Tower Hamlets, Newham, Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge in these four boroughs more than three hundred candidates of Bangladeshi origin are competing for the position of councilor.
The most talked about mayoral elections in Tower Hamlets and Newham. Bangladeshi born candidates Lutfur Rahman and Farhad Hossain have the highest chances of victory in these two boroughs.
The main contest in Tower Hamlets is between incumbent Mayor Lutfur Rahman and Labor Party candidate Sirajul Islam. As both are of Bangladeshi origin, whatever the outcome of the election, the leadership of the borough will remain in the hands of the Bangladeshi community—that much is certain.
Apart from this, Mohammad Abdul Hannan of Liberal Democratic Party and Jami Ali of Tower Hamlets Independent are contesting for the mayoral post.
Over 300 candidates contested against 45 council seats in 20 wards in Tower Hamlets. The number of voters in Barothi is more than two lakh. Voting is going on through a total of 110 polling stations in 76 polling stations.
On the other hand, Newham Council is also showing great interest among the Bangladeshi community. The council has always been under the control of the Labor Party since the borough’s creation in 1965. This time Farhad Hossain of Bangladeshi origin has been nominated for the post of mayor from that party. If he wins, he will make history as the first Bangladeshi executive mayor nominated by a major mainstream political party in the UK.
Bangladeshi-origin Arik Chowdhury is contesting as a Green Party candidate in Newham. In various election polls, Farhad Hossain is ahead in Newham, known as Labour’s base.
Around 350 candidates are running for 66 council seats across 24 wards in Newham. The number of voters in Boroti is close to two and a half lakh. A significant number of Bangladeshi candidates are also running for councilor posts in Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham.
Around 300 candidates contested for 63 seats in 22 wards in Redbridge and around two hundred candidates for 51 seats in 19 wards in Barking and Dagenham.
According to political analysts, the participation of the Bangladeshi community in local politics in East London is no longer merely symbolic; Rather, it has turned into real political power. The Bangladeshi vote in particular is now considered a decisive force in many wards.
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