More candidates join the fray
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Citizens continued to flock yesterday to the supervisory centres in all four governorates of the Kingdom to file their nominations for the upcoming Parliamentary and Municipal elections next month.
Supervisory centres, as in the last two days, opened their doors at 5 pm. However, there was no rush, as on Day 1, with centres were quiet, with only a few citizens present to file nominations. Officials confirmed receiving 400 candidacy applications in the first two days.
The four supervisory centres are Khawla Secondary School for Girls in the Capital Governorate (parliamentary election only), Al-Hidaya Al-Khalifa Secondary School for Boys in Muharraq Governorate, Yathreb Preparatory School for Girls in the Northern Governorate, and Al-Mustaqbal Primary School for Girls in the Southern Governorate.
The head of the Supervisory Committee on the Safety of Referendum and Elections in Muharraq Governorate, Dr Ali Al-Shuwaikh, said they received 17 applications on day two. Of the 17 nominations, 10 were for the parliamentary election, including three women.
Seven candidates for the Municipal council included two women. In another development, yesterday, Former MP Ibrahim Bousandal filed his nomination in the Muharraq Governorate as an independent candidate.
In the 2006 election, he was one of the prominent members of Al -the Asala Association. When asked about dropping out, he said this allows him to work without any constraints of political association.
“I will continue the same approach when it comes to standing for the rights of citizens,” he stressed. Bousandal will run from the second district of Muharraq Governorate, Where Ibrahim Al Naifi’i is the sitting MP.
Bousandal said that during his tenure, he presented several proposals and was instrumental in increasing the handicapped allowance from BD50 to BD100. Officials at the Supervisory centre in the Capital Governorate also witnessed two divorced women filing papers to fight for a parliamentary seat.
According to Al Ayam, the incident had also paved the way for another battle. The ex-husband of one of the women said he intends to object to her candidacy. He points out that the woman is living with him on the first floor of the building temporarily only.
Hence cannot claim that as her residential address.
All sitting MPs file in capital
Meanwhile, it also emerged that all of the sitting MPs from the capital governorate had filed their nominations, with MP Ahmed Al Salloum being the last person to file nominations.
Al Salloum will face the election from the 5th district of the Capital Governorate. MP Abdullah Al Aali also filed papers to enter the fray from fifth constituency - his sitting constituency. Al Aali is first cleric to enter the electoral race.
Yesterday, the Youth Leadership Society, the Observatory Society for Human Rights, Rotaract Bahrain, and Bahrain Debates Centre jointly launched a campaign #Youth_we vote” to motivate young men and women to participate in the elections.
Nominations until Sunday
As per the rule, citizens wishing to run for membership in the Council of Representatives and municipal elections could file the papers until this Sunday. COVID-19 patients, to file nominations, should contact the hotline at 77277277 to book an appointment with the relevant supervisory committee.
The nomination procedures are available for cross-checking on www.vote.bh. The candidate lists will be on display for three days, between October 10 and 12, during which potential candidates may challenge the decisions of the supervisory committees.
Supervisory committees shall issue final decisions regarding the challenge requests by October 15, which citizens could at a competent court before October 18. The court decision will come by October 25.
Fahd Al Buainain, the head of the supervisory committee in North, announced receiving 74 nominations for the parliamentary election, of which 7 were rejected. The committee also received 54 applications for the municipal election, of which 4 were rejected.
Dr Ali Al Suwaikh, the head of the supervising committee in Muharrak, announced receiving 14 nominations for parliament and 30 for Municipal Council. In the Capital Governorate, the supervising committee received eight applications yesterday. The committee, in total, received 85 nominations and accepted 63 applications.
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