Seven societies to contest polls

Seven political societies will take part in the upcoming parliamentary and municipal elections, it is learned. Though the societies haven’t officially made any announcements, 23 candidates representing them have confirmed through social media networks as well as to local press that they would contest polls.

The seven societies are Al Asalah Islamic Society, Al Menbar Islamic Society, Progressive Tribune Society, National Unity Assembly, National Action Charter (Al Meethaq) Society, Al Saff Islamic Society, and Al Rabitah Islamic Society. The candidates who are members of the political societies form only eight percent of the total in this year’s elections (280 have so far declared candidacy) while the independents constitute the huge majority (92pc).

With ten days remaining for filing the nominations, most political societies in the Kingdom haven’t officially announced their lists of candidates. The Progressive Tribune Society announced last Saturday that six of its members would contest in the parliamentary elections. More societies are expected to make similar announcements in the next few days.

Southern Governorate : 

Among all governorates in the Kingdom, the political societies are most active in the Southern Governorate. Nine representatives of different political societies have already announced their candidature. Three belong to Al Asalah Political Society.

Adnan Al Maliki plans to run from the first constituency while Ahmed Al Ansari will fight the electoral battle in the second constituency. Ali Zayid will contest from the fourth constituency. Three candidates of Al Menbar Islamic Society also announced that they would contest in the parliamentary elections. They are Khalid Al Qattan (first constituency), Yaqoub Naseem (second constituency) and Anas Bumta’e (fourth constituency). The two members of the National Unity Assembly, Dr. Mohammed Al Hosani and Mohammed Al Riffai, announced that they would contest in the third and second constituencies, while Mohammed Darwish from the National Action Charter Society said he would run for elections from the sixth constituency.