MPs don’t need to resign before contesting as independent candidates: EC

The incumbent Members of Parliament who want to run as independent candidates do not need to resign from their positions, the Election Commission (EC) said on Wednesday.

The EC clarified the issue in a press release on Wednesday after Election Commissioner Rashida Sultana said current MPs who want to run as independent candidates must step down from their current positions - a statement that created confusion in political arena.

Independent candidates must submit their nomination papers along with a list of signatures from one per cent of the total voters in their constituencies, said the release.

However, if they have been a Member of Parliament before, they do not need to submit this list, said the release.