Over 2 lakh file for UP polls

More than two lakh aspirants filed nomination papers to vie for 55,042 posts of chairman, member and women member in 4,234 Union Parisad elections across the country yesterday, the last day for filing nomination papers.

The polls for the Union Parisad, the lowest tier of the local government, begin on January 25 and will be staggering until March 16.

Election Commission (EC) sources said no untoward incident was reported. The EC today would scrutinise nomination papers.

Officials at the EC Secretariat in the capital were busy receiving the lists of candidates from across the country till late last night.

Meanwhile, the tussle between the government and the EC over deployment of troops during the polls is still to be over with both sides showing no signs budging from the respective positions.

The dispute followed an EC decision to deploy troops to maintain law and order during the election. The government questioned the EC's jurisdiction as far as the deployment of army is concerned.

Some 25 non-government organisations sought accreditation from the EC to monitor the polls, according to the EC sources.

This time the number of election observers is likely to soar to 100,000 from 30,000 in the 1997 election.

Meantime, the commission has started exchanging views with the NGOs. Apart from other preparations, the commission is busy preparing the "observers' accreditation" cards. The observers are to follow the code of conduct the EC promulgated during the eighth parliamentary election in October 2001. Also, the election observers will be under legal cover like in the general election.

So far, Bangladesh Mano-badhiker Samannaya Parisad, Bangladesh Manabadhiker Commission, Democracy Watch, Massline Media Center, Nari Progoti Shangha, Broti, ASA, Odhiker, FEMA, Service Civil International, International Society for Fair Election Monitoring, SEAF, Jatiya Nirbachan Parjabekhok Parisad, Muktijoddha Kalyan Kendro, Nari Jagoroni Sangstha, Action on Disability and Development, Human and Environment Development Association, Banchte Shekha, Khan Foundation, Liberty Movement, RDRS, Bangladesh Manabadhiker Bastobayan Sangstha, National Democratic Alliance and Asia Foundation sought accreditation from the EC.