The Election
Commission on Sunday validated 34 more candidatures for the December 29 polls
after hearing appeals of the aspirants, whose nomination papers were rejected
during scrutiny, officials said.
The
three-member commission, headed by chief election commissioner ATM Shamsul
Huda, heard as many as 60 appeals against rejection on the second day of
hearing appeals. With Sunday’s 34, the total number of validation against
rejection so far stood at 67.
It received 307
appeals against rejection and 81 against validation of candidatures, including
few stalwarts from both sides of the political divides, until Sunday evening,
deputy secretary of the commission Jesmin Tuli said. The total number of
appeals was 212 in 2001 general elections.
The commission
will continue hearing appeals on December 10, a day ahead of withdrawal of
nomination paper, to facilitate the contenders to launch electioneering at
their respective constituencies. No hearing will, however, take place on the
Eid-day on December 9.