GUJRAT: There are only 38 candidates for the 129 reserved seats of the minorities in as many union councils of Gujrat district as most of the minority candidates are likely to be elected unopposed due to the shortage of the representatives in the rural parts of the district.

However, for the single seat of minorities in the Gujrat Municipal Corporation, three candidates from different parties are in the run whereas nine candidates will contest for the five reserved seats of the minorities in Gujrat District Council while 16 such candidates are also in the run against the six minority seats in as many municipal committees.

According to a data received from the local government office, 66 candidates have filed their nomination papers against the 141 reserved seats for the minorities in local bodies of the district, including district councils, municipal committees and Gurjat city municipal corporation.

However, there are 299 candidates against the total 296 seats reserved for the women, including 258 seats of some 129 rural union (117 rural and 12 urban) in the district.

There are 14 candidates in the run for only three seats of the technocrats, two in Gujrat Municipal Corporation and one in the district council as nine candidates have filed their nomination papers for the only seat of district council and five candidates are in the run for the two seats of technocrats in the corporation.

The returning officers notified for the elections of the reserved seats of district council, union councils, municipal committees and Gujrat Municipal Corporation started scrutiny of the nomination papers on Monday.

As many as 171 candidates have filed their nominations for the total 137 seats reserved for youth in the local bodies of the entire district including that of 129 seats in the rural and urban union councils, six in the municipal committees (one each in the six MCs) and one each for the district council and Gujrat Municipal corporation.

Similarly, 190 aspirants are in the race for 140 seats reserved for the peasants/worker in the district.

Elections for district council and municipal corporations will be held on Nov 8, for municipal committees on Nov 10 and for UC reserved seats on Nov 12.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2016