The Election Commission is going to allow Upazila Parishad chairmen to participate in the electioneering for the upcoming Union Parishad elections. “There’ll be no provision in the election code of conduct of Union Parishad preventing Upazila chairmen from participating in electioneering,” Election Commissioner Shah Nawaz told UNB yesterday. Explaining the reason behind keeping the scope for the Upazila chairmen, he said it will not be wise to keep them out of the electioneering as many of them are grassroots leaders of political parties. Following the recent amendment to the Local Government (Union Parishad) Act 2009 to hold election to only the chairman post of each Union Parishad under party line, the Commission is now changing the election rules and the code of conduct.  However, the proposed election code of conduct for Union Parishad will be finalised at the Commission’s meeting on Tuesday, and it will subsequently be sent to the Law Ministry for its vetting.  Union Parishad elections are set to begin at the end of March next.