That is the question in Cumilla-4 after the High Court upheld a decision that knocked a key rival out of the race, sharply narrowing the field and leaving NCP’s Hasnat Abdullah to face a much weaker challenge.

On Wednesday, a High Court bench of Justice Razik Al Jalil and Justice Md Anwarul Islam dismissed a petition filed by BNP candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi, who had sought to overturn the cancellation of his nomination papers.

The decision means Munshi is effectively out of the race unless the Appellate Division steps in to give him relief.

Munshi went to court after the Election Commission (EC) reversed an earlier decision by the returning officer that had initially accepted his nomination during scrutiny.

The EC acted after Hasnat Abdullah appealed against Munshi’s nomination, alleging he failed to properly disclose information that showed he was a loan defaulter.

Following a hearing at its headquarters on Jan 17, the EC upheld Hasnat’s appeal and declared Munshi’s nomination invalid on the same day.

Munshi challenged that decision at the High Court, arguing the commission had acted unlawfully. The court rejected his argument, leaving his nomination cancelled.

Unless the Appellate Division intervenes, the ruling could reshape the contest in Cumilla-4, potentially clearing the way for Hasnat Abdullah to emerge as the dominant contender.