The High Court on Monday stayed the Election Commission's decision that cancelled the candidacy of three aspirants of Patuakhail's Rangabali upazila for the fourth phase of upazila polls to be held on June 5.

The High Court bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Muhammad Mahbub-ul Islam passed the order on Monday after hearing separate writs.

Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman moved for the petitioner during the hearing.

He said that due to this order, those three candidates are now in the election race.

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The three candidates are Rangabali upazila chairman candidate Saiduzzman Mamun, vice chairman candidate Roushan Mridha and candidate for vice chairman reserved for women Ferdousi Parveen.

On May 31, the EC asked the State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Mohibbur Rahman to appear in person on June 2 and explain the violation of the electoral code of conduct,

The EC in separate letters also asked Saiduzzman Mamun, Roushan Mridha and Ferdousi Parveen to appear before the commission to explain in this regard on the same day.

According to the letter, State Minister  Mohibbur, while distributing relief at Kodalia Ghat in Chhota Baishdia Union of Rangabali upazila of Patuakhali and in Chaltabunia Bazar of Chaltabunia Union sought votes for different candidates which is a complete violation of electoral code of conduct.

Later on Sunday, the state minister and three candidates appeared in the EC.

After the hearing, the EC cancelled the candidature of the three aspirants in the Rangabali Upazila Parishad election as they violated the electoral code of conduct.

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Besides, the state minister expressed his regret in a written statement to the commission. Taking that into consideration, the commission acquitted him of the charges.

Following the order, three candidates moved to the High Court.