561 aspirants appeal to EC against ROs decision

As many as 561 aspirants lodged appeals to the Election Commission (EC) to against the rejection of nomination forms by respective returning officers (ROs) for the next national polls slated for January 7.

On the last day on Saturday, 130 independent aspirants and different political party nominees lodged appeals to the EC against the decision of ROs. The appeals will be disposed of between December 10 and 15 by the commission.

EC secretary Md Jahangir Alam disclosed the information in a press conference at Agargaon Nirbachan Bhaban on Saturday.

A total of 42 appeals were lodged on the first day, 141 on the second day, 155 on the third day and 93 on the fourth day.

Among the 130 aspirants who lodged appeals today, nine from Dhaka Region, 28 from Cumilla, 12 from Chattogram, three from Faridpur, four from Sylhet, 16 from Mymensingh, eight from Barishal, 16 from Khulna, 18 from Rajshahi and nine from Rangpur.

Some 2,716 aspirants submitted nomination papers to the EC for contesting the next general election. Of them, forms of 731 aspirants were cancelled and 1985 nomination forms were accepted during scrutiny carried out by respective returning offices.

As per the schedule, the deadline for nomination paper submission was November 30. Scrutiny of papers was done between December 1 and 4. Lodging appeals against the decision of returning officers were from December 5 and 9. Appeals will be disposed of from December 10 to 15. The deadline for candidacy withdrawal is December 17 (Sunday). On December 18, returning officers will give an allocation of election symbols.

The electoral campaign will be from December 18 to 8am on January 5, 2024.

The EC has appointed 66 returning officers and 592 assistant returning officers.

Around 11.97 crore people are eligible to exercise their voting rights at 2.62 lakh polling booths of 42,000 polling centres in the 12th JS elections.

/KN/