Khelafat Majlis withdraws nominations in over 50 seats for alliance unity

Khelafat Majlis has withdrawn its nomination papers in more than 50 constituencies in the interest of maintaining unity within the 10-party alliance ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election.

In a press release today (20 January), the party said more than half of the party's 72 candidates who had passed the nomination scrutiny formally withdrew their candidacies on the final day of withdrawal.

Acting on central party instructions, the candidates submitted their withdrawal applications to their respective district returning officers. The withdrawals were made in support of alliance partners, reads the release.

Khelafat Majlis also withdrew its nomination in the constituency contested by the senior nayeb-e-ameer of Islami Andolan Bangladesh.

Party leaders and activists, along with candidates of allied parties from the alliance, were present during the submission process.

According to the party, before the election schedule was announced, Khelafat Majlis had nominated party candidates in 258 parliamentary constituencies and had been carrying out campaign activities. Later, as part of seat-sharing arrangements with alliance partners, the party submitted nomination papers in only 74 constituencies.

However, to preserve broader unity among Islamist and pro-nationalist forces, the party has now taken a final decision to withdraw nominations in more than 50 constituencies in line with central directives.

The remaining candidates will contest the election as nominees of the 10-party alliance, using the "wall clock" symbol, the release added.