A total of 255 aspirants got back their candidacy in the last five days, while four others lost their candidature as the Election Commission is dealing with nearly 500 appeals filed by aggrieved hopefuls to contest the upcoming national election slated for January 07.
The commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on December 05 started hearing and disposing of the appeals submitted by aggrieved aspirants, challenging the acceptance and cancellation of the nomination papers by the returning officers.
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The EC accepted some 260 appeals, while turned down 213 ones and kept its decisions pending regarding 20 appeals.
With the acceptance of 260 petitions, some 255 aspirants got clearance to run the January 7 general election, while four aspirants lost candidacy though the returning officers earlier declared their nominations valid.
But two petitions were lodged against a single aspirant whose nomination paper was declared valid by the RO concerned. The Election Commission accepted the two petitions.
The commission accepted 56 appeals on Sunday, 51 on Monday, 61 Tuesday, 48 on Wednesday and 44 on Thursday.
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On Thursday, the EC turned down 52 petitions and kept its decision pending for four, hearing 100 appeals at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city.
The commission will conclude hearing appeals on Friday. On the final day, the EC is supposed to hear more than 60 petitions including one for Awami League aspirant Shahjahan Omar in Jhalakathi-1 constituency, AL aspirant Shammi Ahmed and independent aspirant Pankaj Debnath in Barishal-4, AL aspirant Shamim Haque and independent aspirant AK Azad in Faridpur-3.
If anyone becomes aggrieved even with the EC’s decision over candidature, the person has scope to go to the higher court, challenging it.
A total of 561 aspirants filed appeals before the Election Commission, challenging the decisions of the returning officers over the cancellation or acceptance of nomination papers.
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Earlier, a total of 2,716 aspirants including 747 independents submitted nomination papers in 300 constituencies throughout the country to run the 12th national parliamentary election.
But the returning officers accepted 1985 nomination papers and rejected 731 others during the scrutiny conducted on December 1-4.
Most of the 731 nomination papers were rejected on three grounds - mismatch in the 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 candidates can go for electioneering from December 18 to January 5 (8am), 48 hours before the balloting, which will continue from 8 am to 4pm without any recess on January 7.
Out of 44 registered political parties, 29 parties are contesting the general election, which is being boycotted by major party BNP and some others.