In breach of the electoral laws, the Election Commission (EC) yesterday asked the political parties to rank their picks for a constituency in order of preference, and inform the returning officers about it during the scrutiny of nominations.
The Representation of the People Order (RPO) says a party having more than one nominee against a seat must give the ROs a single name before the scrutiny starts.
“Provided that any registered political party may primarily nominate more than one candidate and if more than one candidate is nominated, the name of one nominated candidate shall be sent to the Returning Officer in writing before the scrutiny of the nomination papers,” says article 12 (3a) (b) of the RPO.
To issue the fresh instructions yesterday, the EC cancelled its earlier letter asking the political parties to notify the ROs of their final selection before the examination of candidacy papers, said sources at the EC Secretariat.
The commission issued the letter on November 27.
Seventeen registered political parties have multiple candidates vying for a seat. Of them, Awami League, BNP and Jatiya Party have more than one candidate in a good number of constituencies.
They were supposed to settle on their nominees before the ROs began the scrutiny yesterday.
Interestingly, the letter issued yesterday afternoon cited the obligation for the political parties to opt for one candidate and inform election officials of their decisions before the scrutiny.
But then again, it asked them to arrange the names of their nominees for a seat according to precedence and tell the ROs officially about it during the scrutiny.
The latest EC decision meant more time for the political parties to resolve the issue of multiple contestants.
In its November 27 letter, the EC misinterpreted the electoral provision regarding nominees of an alliance.
It asked the electoral alliances to serialise their nominees and inform the ROs before the scrutiny, whereas the electoral laws do not have any such stipulation, EC Secretariat officials said.
There was however nothing about alliance nominees in yesterday’s letter.
Meanwhile, an AL delegation led by HT Imam yesterday requested the EC to extend the time limit for the political parties to finalise candidates till December 11.
The previous day BNP too discussed the matters with the commission, sources said.
Talking to reporters after meeting the AL team, Election Commissioner Muhammed Sohul Hussain said it is not possible now to allow any extension of time.
Replying to a query yesterday afternoon, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda said there is no scope for an independent candidate to change into a nominee of a registered political party.
About BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia claiming to be self-educated in affidavit attached to her nomination paper for Bogra-6, he said the ROs will decide on the issue.
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