DHAKA, Dec 9, 2023 (BSS) - As many as 561 aspirants lodged appeals to the Election Commission (EC) to against the rejection of nomination forms by respective returning officers (ROs) for the next national polls slated for January 7.

On the last day on Saturday, 130 independent aspirants and different political party nominees lodged appeals to the EC against the decision of ROs. The appeals will be disposed between December 10 and 15 by the commission.

EC secretary Md Jahangir Alam disclosed the information in a press conference at Agargaon Nirbachan Bhaban here this afternoon.

A total of 42 appeals were lodged on the first day, 141 on second day, 155 on third day and 93 on fourth day.

Among the 130 aspirants who lodged appeals today, nine from Dhaka Region, 28 from Cumilla, 12 from Chattogram, three from Faridpur, four from Sylhet, 16 from Mymensingh, eight from Barishal, 16 from Khulna, 18 from Rajshahi and nine from Rangpur.

Some 2,716 aspirants submitted nomination papers to the EC for contesting the next general election. Of them, forms of 731 aspirants were cancelled and 1985 nomination forms were accepted during scrutiny carried out by respective returning offices.

 As per the schedule, the deadline for nomination paper submission was November 30. Scrutiny of papers was done between December 1 and 4. Lodging appeal against decision of returning officers were from December 5 and 9. Appeals will be disposed from December 10 to 15. The deadline for candidacy withdrawal is December 17 (Sunday). On December 18, returning officers will give allocation of election symbols.

Electoral campaign will be from December 18 to 8am on January 5, 2024.

The EC has appointed 66 returning officers and 592 assistant returning officers.

Around 11.97 crore people are eligible for exercising their voting rights at 2.62 lakh polling booths of 42,000 polling centers in the 12th JS elections.