Two hundred sixty-three candidates from the ruling Awami League will join the upcoming national election scheduled for January 7.
Besides, six MP hopefuls from the party’s partners in the 14-party alliance will participate in the polls with the Awami League’s electoral symbol, boat.
Two hundred ninety-eight had submitted their nomination papers from the Awami League. Later the Election Commission declared invalid the forms of five of them, while the ruling party on Sunday announced that it would leave 26 seats for the Jatiya Party.
However, two Awami League candidates whose candidacies had been cancelled filed separate writ petitions in the High Court on Sunday challenging the commission’s decision. They will be able to contest the election if they get back their candidacy through a court order.
Notably, 258 Awami League candidates were in the election race in the 2018 general election.