No party registration before local polls: EC

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said yesterday that no political party can be registered with the Election Commission before local government polls.
“The time left for the elections is very short. Registration of a political party takes time. Usually parties get registered when there is a specific time before the general election. We don’t have that time. Scrutiny for registration will not be possible before local government elections. If a candidate is unable to contest under a party banner, he/she can participate as an independent. We will keep this provision for polls to local bodies, like the municipality and union parishad,” he said.
The CEC was answering queries of journalists after a meeting with the mayor and councilors of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) at the auditorium of the National Economic Council in the city.
There are 40 registered political parties. No candidate from unregistered parties will be able to take part in local body elections.  On October 12, the cabinet approved the draft law that local body elections will be held under the party banner.

 Rakibuddin said: “Local body elections have so far been held without party symbols, but political parties supported their chosen candidates. Even the media presented a candidate as aspirant of such-and-such party. This is now being formalised through law. Candidates can also contest as independents.”
 Regarding the schedule for local body elections, he said: “We are waiting for the ordinance. We are making preparations, so that whenever we get the ordinance we will amend election rules. If we get the ordinance by November 15, we will be able to hold the polls in time.”
 On the possibility of violence as the polls would be fought under the party banner, the EC chief said: “There are many countries where the police are not needed during elections. We hope, such a culture will prevail in Bangladesh one day when there will be no violence. We will try to deploy additional law enforcers to tackle violence in polls.”
 Awami League leaders think that poll violence will be reduced and the democratic process will be strengthened if  local body elections are held under the party banner. However, leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and experts said polls under the party banner would lead to more violence.
 About the meeting with public representatives, the CEC said: “We take the help of public representatives for collecting information on deceased voters, updating voter lists, etc. We have asked them for information on deceased voters. They have promised to give it within two or three weeks.”

No party registration before local polls: EC

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said yesterday that no political party can be registered with the Election Commission before local government polls. The time left for the elections is very short. Registration of a political party takes time. Usually parties get registered when there is a specific time before the general election. We dont have that time. Scrutiny for registration will not be possible before local government elections. If a candidate is unable to contest under a party banner, he/she can participate as an independent. We will keep this provision for polls to local bodies, like the municipality and union parishad, he said. The CEC was answering queries of journalists after a meeting with the mayor and councilors of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) at the auditorium of the National Economic Council in the city. There are 40 registered political parties. No candidate from unregistered parties will be able to take part in local body elections. On October 12, the cabinet approved the draft law that local body elections will be held under the party banner. Rakibuddin said: Local body elections have so far been held without party symbols, but political parties supported their chosen candidates. Even the media presented a candidate as aspirant of such-and-such party. This is now being formalised through law. Candidates can also contest as independents. Regarding the schedule for local body elections, he said: We are waiting for the ordinance. We are making preparations, so that whenever we get the ordinance we will amend election rules. If we get the ordinance by November 15, we will be able to hold the polls in time. On the possibility of violence as the polls would be fought under the party banner, the EC chief said: There are many countries where the police are not needed during elections. We hope, such a culture will prevail in Bangladesh one day when there will be no violence. We will try to deploy additional law enforcers to tackle violence in polls. Awami League leaders think that poll violence will be reduced and the democratic process will be strengthened if local body elections are held under the party banner. However, leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and experts said polls under the party banner would lead to more violence. About the meeting with public representatives, the CEC said: We take the help of public representatives for collecting information on deceased voters, updating voter lists, etc. We have asked them for information on deceased voters. They have promised to give it within two or three weeks.