The Election Commission on Tuesday declared 61 more aspirants as valid contenders, hearing 98 appeals filed by aggrieved ones against the decisions of the returning officers over the nomination papers in the upcoming national election.

With 61 new aspirants, a total of 168 hopefuls got back their candidacy in the first three days after the EC on Sunday started hearing and disposing of the appeals submitted against the cancellation or acceptance of nomination papers by the returning officers (ROs).

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On Tuesday, the commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal turned down 35 petitions and kept its decisions over two petitions pending following hearing at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city.

The EC has so far heard 291 appeals in the first three days and made its decisions over 276 petitions and kept the decisions regarding 15 ones pending.  Nine petitioners did not turn up in the hearing.

If anyone becomes aggrieved even with the EC’s decision over candidature, the person has scope to go to the higher court, challenging it.

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The commission is hearing and disposing of the petitions from December 10 to 15 as a total of 561 aggrieved aspirants challenged the ROs’ decisions.

Most of them lodged petitions against cancellation of nomination papers, while at least 30 aspirants against the acceptance of nomination papers.

Earlier, a total of 2,716 aspirants including 747 independent ones submitted nomination papers in 300 constituencies throughout the country to run the 12th national parliamentary election.

Out of 44 registered political parties, 29 parties are contesting the general election, which is being boycotted by major party BNP and some others.

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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.

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