HM Ershad-led Jatiya Party (JP) is again likely to become the main opposition in the 11th Parliament. Most JP leaders are still upset over the election results as they failed to get their intended seats, even though they begged the Awami League (AL) for them. Some JP senior leaders revealed this to The Independent yesterday. The JP bagged 22 seats as part of the Awami League-led Grand Alliance in the polls held on Sunday. Party chief Ershad will again likely fly to Singapore on January 19 for treatment, according to sources.

The JP sat in the opposition in the 10th Parliament after the 2014 election and faced severe criticism from various quarters because of its failure to play a meaningful role as the main opposition. Some of its their leaders also became ministers in the Sheikh Hasina-led government.

According to party sources, the JP wants to overcome such an identity crisis this time and plans not to join the next government to be formed soon by the Sheikh Hasina-led AL.

“Our party will sit in the main opposition bench in the 11th Parliament,” JP presidium member SM Faysal Chisti told The Independent yesterday.

When asked about the inclusion of JP lawmakers as Cabinet members in the next government, Chisti said: “The possibility is zero. We faced severe criticim as some of our lawmakers joined the Sheikh Hasina-led government after the 2014 polls. We’ll play the role of the main opposition in the House this time around.”

The 11th parliamentary polls were held on Sunday last and the newly elected lawmakers are yet to take oath.

“We are not happy with the results. Even our party chief (Ershad) is upset,” said Prof. Delwar Hossain, another JP presidium member who was also the chief of 11thparliamentary election monitoring cell.

According to Prof. Delwar Hossain, the final decision regarding whether JP lawmakers are to join the government as Cabinet members would be taken at a presidium meeting. “The matter is yet to be discussed at the party level. Let the lawmakers take oath first,” he said in reply to a query.

He,however, said that the JP was keen to play a vital role as the main opposition in the 11th Parliament. “It’s not possible to criticise the government if one joins the ministry,” he observed.

When asked about the health condition of JP chief Ershad, Prof. Delwar  Hossain said: “Sir (Ershad) is ill. He will fly to Singapore on January 19 for treatment.” Party presidium members Anisul Islam Mahmud and Mujibul Haque Chunnu became ministers, while Moshiur Rahman Ranga was a state minister in the outgoing AL-led government. Besides ministerial positions, party chief HM Ershad was made a special  adviser to the Prime Minister with the status of a minister in the previous government.