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Manama : As the race heats up for the upcoming election, eyes are set on the constituencies to find out who has joined the political showdown. A handful of people have thrown their hat in the ring, while certain others are still weighing their chances. Some said they have decided to enter the fray from their existing constituencies, while a handful of others said they are aiming the seats from elsewhere. Meanwhile, one person has confirmed us about his decision to stay away.  

Yousef Alrayes told Al Ayam during a survey to find out the   prospective candidates and their constituencies that he will not file his nomination this time. The survey talked to all the sitting councillors, expect for Budoor Ben Rajab, a member of the Municipal Council, who remained unavailable even after multiple attempts made by Al Ayam. Out of the 29 Municipal Council members, 16 (55 per cent) told Al Ayam that they will contest, with half of them this time eying the Representatives Council seats. Eight members confirmed their intentions to re-run from their sitting Municipal Constituencies, while 11 members said they have developed second thoughts.

Northern, Southern and Muharraq

Northern Governorate Municipal Council enjoys a minor upper hand in the current council whose strength was reduced to 29 from 30 after the ousting of member Abdullah Alqubaisi last year. 10 members are from the Muharraq Municipal Council and eight from the Southern Governorate. Eight of the members said that they would compete for a seat on the Representative Council from their own constituencies. Northern Governorate thus have four candidates fighting from their own constituencies with Mohammed Belshouk emerging as the most prominent.  

From Northern governorate

8th constituency

Mohammed Belshouk, who represented the National Unity previously, said he would file his nomination from N. Governorate’s eighth constituency. Sitting member here is Isa Turki.

11th constituency

Mohammed Khalifa Bu Humood, the head of the Northern Governorate Municipal Council, said he plans to run from the eleventh constituency. Sitting member here is Jamal Dawood who also said will compete for a seat on the Rep. council.

12th constituency

Hussein Alkhayat, who represents N. Governorate’s12th constituency, will also run for a seat on the Representative Council. Sitting member here, Jamila Alsammak, reportedly expressed her decision to
back out.

3rd constituency

Abdullah Aldoseri, a member of Municipal Council, will run for a seat on the Council of Representatives from the third constituency. He will face sitting member Hamad Aldoseri.

From Muharraq

Two of the members said they would run for a seat on the Rep.Council from Muharraq.

7th constituency

Sabah Aldosari, one of the most influential candidates, has confirmed his decision to run from the seventh constituency of Muharraq, which is currently held by member Ali Almaqla. He reportedly plans to run from another constituency.

Most probably, Sabah will run alongside head of the Council of Muharraq Governorate, Muhammad Al Sinan, who will also run for a seat on the Council of Representatives from here.

 From Southern Governorate

9th constituency

Bader Saud Aldosari, a Municipal Council member, prefers to fight from 9th constituency of the S. Governorate for a seat on the Rep. Council. Sitting member is Mohsen Albakri. 

3rd constituency

Ahmed Alansari from the third constituency and a representative of “Alasala Association” said he would run for a Council of Representatives seat from here to replace, Abdulhalim Murad from the same association.

Second time, same constituency

Eight sitting members of the municipal council told “AlAyam” that they would re-run for the same positions. They are:

1.     Mohammed Alkhal (2nd constituency, S.Gov), 

2.Abdullatif Mohammed (7th constituency, S Gov),

3.Isa Aldosari (10th constituency, S. Gov),

4.    Al Nusooh (6th constituency,  Muharraq),

5.     Hamad Aldosari (4th constituency, N. Gov), 

6.     Taha Aljunaid (10th constituency, N. Gov),

7.     Ahmad Alkooheji (5th constituency,  N. Gov),

8.       Bader Altamimi (8th constituency, S. Gov). 

Eleven members of the Municipal Council as said earlier have second thoughts and is yet to make a decision on their candidacies.

However, a number of them, including Municipal Council Member Abdullah Ashoor, told “AlAyam” that they are seriously considering their candidacy for a seat on the Council of Representatives.

Yousef Althawadi, a Municipal Council member from the 8th constituency of Muharraq Governorate said he is in two minds as the works is extremely tiring and exhaustive for the many obstacles it presents. When asked about the possibilities of a seat on the Representative council, he said he wouldn’t consider that even if he changes his mind. For him the preferred work place is Municipal Council, if he decides to run.

Three other members, Yousef AlSabagh, Najib AlKawari and Mohammed Musa AlBlushi, of the Municipal Council also told Al Ayam about their difficulties in making a decision. However, if a decision is made, they will run for the Council of Representatives seat, and not for the Municipal Council.