MPs won’t have to resign to run as independents: EC

The Election Commission (EC) has said the incumbent members of parliament (MPs) will not have to resign for contesting in the upcoming 12th parliamentary election as independent candidates.

A statement, signed by EC Public Relations Director Md Shariful Alam, has been issued in this regard on Wednesday (November 29).

The statement was issued following several media reports that if any sitting MP elected with party ticket want to contest in the polls independently, s/he has to resign from the post of Member of Parliament and has to submit signatures of one percent voters of their constituency as per the Representation of the People Order-1972.

The statement also said, if any independent candidate was previously elected as a member of parliament, it will not be necessary for him/her to provide the list.

“In that case, the MPs elected with party tickets will not have to resign from their posts to take part in the national polls as independent candidates,” the statement said.

MPs elected through a party ticket, as an independent candidate, or from reserved seats, will be able to take part in the elections staying in their positions, it added.