KCC polls: Awami League to name 10 aspirants for mayoral nomination

Awami League’s Khulna chapter is sending the names of ten aspirants for mayoral candidacy, including that of former mayor and its city unit President Talukdar Abdul Khalek, to the central office for the upcoming Khulna City Corporation (KCC) election. City unit ruling party leaders made the decision during an emergency extended meeting on Monday night. According to insiders, leaders present at the meeting reached a consensus that they want to see Abdul Khalek as the mayoral candidate for the Awami League in the next KCC polls. The Khulna city unit will send the names of ten hopefuls, including Abdul Khalek to the central office, so that a mayoral candidate can be nominated. The city unit will also recommend nominating Khalek. Khulna Awami League Office Secretary Mahbubul Alam Sohag confirmed the matter to the Dhaka Tribune. The recommended Awami league aspirants are senior party leader Kazi Enayet Hossain, Sheikh Syed Ali, MDA Babul Rana, Advocate Saiful Islam, Jubo League leader Anisul Rahman Poplu, Awami League leader Siddiqur Rahman Bulu Biswas, as well as the prime minister’s cousins Sheikh Salahuddin Jewel and Sheikh Sohel. Later, the names of city Awami League President Talukdar Abdul Khalek MP and city unit General Secretary Mizanur Rahman Mizan were also added to the list.

Deposit amount set for mayoral, councillor candidates

The deposit for mayoral candidates in the KCC election has been set at Tk20,000. The amount was set taking into consideration around 500,000 voters in 31 wards in the city. Meanwhile, the deposit for general and reserved councillor candidates in 16 of the 31 wards has been set at Tk10,000. If a particular ward has more than 15,000 voters, in this case 15 wards, the general councillor aspirants will have to pay a deposit of Tk20,000. The amount is same as the deposit for mayoral candidates. Returning officer of KCC election Md Yunus Ali confirmed the matter to the Dhaka Tribune. A deposit of Tk20,000 was set for each general councillor aspirant in ward numbers 3, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30 and 31. The deposits can be made through treasury slips at banks or directly at the returning officer’s office. A total of 493,092 voters are set to cast ballot at the KCC polls on May 15, 2018.

73 symbols to be allocated in the KCC polls

The Election Commission is all set to allocate 73 symbols for the KCC election. Among these symbols, 39 will be allocated to mayoral candidates backed by political parties, 12 to independent mayoral candidates, 12 for general councillor aspirants, and 10 for reserved councillor aspirants. Confirming the matter to the Dhaka Tribune, Returning Officer Md Yunus Ali added: “The symbols will be allocated to the candidates on April 24.”