EC allows 60 more appeals on sixth day of nomination hearings

The number of valid candidates rise to 2,175

On the sixth day of appeal hearings, the Election Commission (EC) has allowed 60 more appeals against returning officers’ decisions during the scrutiny of nomination papers.

The decisions were made on Thursday during appeal hearings held at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon, where candidates regained their eligibility to contest in the election.

With this, a total of 335 candidates have had their nominations restored over six days of hearings. Meanwhile, the EC has cancelled the candidacies of two aspirants whose nominations had earlier been declared valid, after appeals against them were upheld.

EC Public Relations Director Ruhul Amin Mallik said hearings were held on 104 appeals on the sixth day. Of these, 60 were allowed, 29 were rejected, and five appeals challenging the acceptance of nomination papers were also dismissed. Ten appeals remain pending.

Following scrutiny conducted between Dec 30 and Jan 4, nomination papers of 723 candidates were rejected, leaving 1,842 valid candidates at that stage.

After the appeal process, two candidates have been dropped, while 335 have regained eligibility, bringing the total number of valid candidates to 2,175.

According to the election schedule, appeal hearings will continue until Jan 18. Candidates will have time to withdraw their nominations until Jan 20, after which the final list of contestants will be determined.

Election symbols will be allocated on Jan 21, while voting is scheduled for Feb 12.