81 UP chairman candidates set to be elected unopposed

A total of 81 candidates are set to be elected unopposed as union parishad (UP) chairmen in the second phase of polls slated for November 11.

Another 203 member candidates and 76 member aspirants for reserved seats for women are also set to get elected uncontested, said Election Commission (EC) Joint Secretary SM Asaduzzaman last night.

They were lone candidates for the positions, he added.

Yesterday was the last date for withdrawal of candidature. Most lone candidates for chairman positions were ruling Awami League candidates.

In the second phase, people from 846 UPs will go to the polls.

After withdrawal of candidature, EC data shows that 3,310 candidates are contesting chairman posts on the ticket of one of the 17 registered political parties or as independents. A total of 9,061 are running for reserved member seats for women and 28,747 for the member posts.

A total of 71 candidates were elected unopposed in the first phase of UP elections, which witnessed polls to 364 UPs. Most of the 71 were from the ruling party, said EC sources.

Ruling Awami League candidates won 267 chairman posts in the first phase of elections. In the first phase, elections were held in 204 UPs on June 21 and 160 UPs on September 20.

Elections to 1,007 UPs in the third phase will be held on November 28.