A total of 141 aggrieved aspirants filed appeals before the Election Commission on Wednesday challenging the decisions of the returning officers.

Among them, some 23 aspirants from Dhaka region (EC divided the whole countries into 10 regions), 16 from Cumilla region, nine from Chattogram region, six from Faridpur region, four from Sylhet region, 19 from Mymensingh region, six from Barishal region, 18 from Khulna region, 26 from Rajshahi region and 14 from Rangpur region, according to the EC Secretariat.

With them, a total 183 aspirants challenged the decisions of the returning officers in the first two days (Tuesday and Wednesday).

The commission on Tuesday started receiving the petitions over the rejection and acceptance of nomination papers by the returning officers and will continue it till December 9.

A total of 2,716 aspirants including 747 independent ones submitted nomination papers in 300 constituencies throughout the country to run the 12th parliamentary election slated for January 07 next.

But the returning officers have accepted 1985 nomination papers and rejected 731 others during the scrutiny conducted on December 1-4 last.

Most of the 731 nomination papers were rejected on three grounds -- mismatch in 1pc voters’ signatures submitted by independent aspirants, loans and utility bills defaults and dual citizenship.

The last date for withdrawal of candidature is December 17 and the returning officers will distribute electoral symbols among the contenders on December 18.

The candidates can go for electioneering from December 18 to January 5 (8am), 48 hours before the balloting, which will continue from 8am to 4pm without any recess on January 7.