Election Commission (EC) yesterday decided in principle to hold the elections of the Rangpur City Corporation (RCC) on December 21. “The commission meeting has decided in principle to hold the RCC polls on December 21. The schedule will be announced on November 5,” EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmad told the journalists at his office in the Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital. This would be the second RCC polls under the political party banners as the last polls of the corporation were held on 20 Dec 2012.

Commission sources said the elections would be a big test for the KM Nurul Huda led Commission before holding the next general elections in 2018.  The current commission held several polls including the Comilla City Corporation polls on Feb 15 with the participation of ruling Awami League candidate and BNP candidate. As per the city corporation rules, the elections have to be held before 180 days of the completion of five years of the elected representatives. According to it, the RCC polls have to be held by March 18, 2018. In the last RCC polls, there were 3.88 lakh voters and the number of polling stations was 196.