Date of submission of ‘AB forms’ has been extended till date of withdrawal

PUNE: The final list of candidates of major parties, contesting the February 16 elections to 10 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, is unlikely to be finalised till February 3 (the late date of withdrawal of nominations), since the State Election Commission on Tuesday extended the date of submission of Form 'A' and Form 'B'.

Form 'A' is the declaration of members empowered by the registered political party to nominate the candidates and 'B' the letter of nomination.

Earlier, it was mandatory to submit the AB forms till the last date of filing the nomination forms, which is on January 31.

AB forms are important, as they confirm the official candidates of the party. If any candidate does not submit the AB forms alongwith his nomination, his candidature is considered as Independent candidate.

Pune Municipal Corporation Election officer Pravin Ashtikar said that as per the earlier rule, the political parties were required to submit the AB forms till the last date of filing the nominations.

However, the Election Commission has now extended the date and issued fresh order on Tuesday, allowing submission of AB forms till the date of withdrawal (February 3).

Major political parties are faced with the possibility of some of their party cadres contesting as Independents in case they are not nominated by February three.

With this new development, contesting candidates would get only 13 days for campaigning for the elections, voting for which is scheduled for February 16.

FIRST OFFICIAL REBEL IN CONGRESS FOR PMC POLLS

- As the nominations for the elections to the Pune Municipal Corporation opened on Monday, Vilas Wadekar of the Congress, a former corporator rebelled against the party and filed his nomination papers. He has filed his papers as Congress as well as an Independent.

- According to PMC election office, a total of 2,320 forms were purchased by aspiring candidates from 14 regional offices on Tuesday, the first day of filing nominations.

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