Contesting candidates get symbols for RpCC polls

All 255 contesting candidates, including nine for the mayoral post, in the Rangpur City Corporation (RpCC) Elections- 2022 got poll symbols on Friday adding a new dimension to the electioneering process.

Returning Officer for RpCC Elections-2022 and Joint Secretary of Election Commission Md Abdul Baten allocated the symbols in favour of the candidates in a function held at the Shilpokola Academy auditorium in the city.

Awami League nominated mayoral post candidate Hosne Ara Lutfa Dalia got ‘Boat’ as the poll symbol while Jatiya Party nominated mayoral post candidate Md Mostafizur Rahman got ‘Plough’ as the poll symbol.

Mayoral post candidates Md Amiruzzaman of Islami Andolan Bangladesh got ‘Hand fan’, Md Abu Raihan of Bangladesh Congress got ‘Green coconut’, Md Latifur Rahman (Independent) got ‘Elephant’, Md Tauhidur Rahman Mondal of Khelafat Majlish got ‘Wall clock’, Md Shafiar Rahman of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASOD) got ‘Moshal’, Md Mehedi Hasan (Independent) got ‘Deer’ and Md Khorshed Alam of Zaker Party got ‘Rose flower’ as their respective poll symbols.

Earlier, a total of 277 candidates, including 10 for the mayoral posts, 198 for general councillor posts in 33 wards and 69 for reserved women councillor posts in 11 reserved wards submitted nomination papers by the last date on November 29 last.

During scrutiny on December 1 last, the Returning Officer cancelled the nomination papers of 36 candidates, including 29 for general councillor posts and seven for reserved women councillor posts for various reasons.

Later, 33 out of 36 councillor post candidates appealed against the cancellation of their nomination papers.

After hearing their pleas on Wednesday, the Appellate Authority of RpCC Elections-2022 declared the nomination papers of 22 candidates, including 17 for general councillor and five reserved women councillor posts, as legitimate.

At the same time, the Appellate Authority cancelled the nomination paper of another valid councillor post candidate after a hearing on a plea filed against the validity of that nomination paper.

On the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers on Thursday, seven candidates, including one for mayoral and six for general councillor posts, withdrew nomination papers quitting the race from the RpCC elections- 2022.