The proposed condition that a candidate will require at least three years of affiliation with a registered party to contest parliamentary polls will not be applicable for the next general elections only so as to enable newly formed parties to participate.

Election Commission (EC) is also planning a provision that reelections will be held in polling centres where 50 percent or more "no vote" are cast.

"The condition that a candidate has to have three years attachment with a recognised political party would not be effective for the coming election," Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Sakhawat Hossain told newsmen yesterday.

He said they changed their plan to encourage honest and competent people to participate in the elections.

However, retired government and non-government organisation (NGO) officials will not be able to take advantage of the flexible rule.

"A political party has to meet the criteria set by the commission for its registration, a must for getting the EC's permission to participate in the elections," he said.

Earlier, the EC during a meeting with journalists said candidates would require at least three years of political involvement with a registered party to contest the polls.

Regarding "no vote", Sakhawat

said the voter's right to tender a "no vote" will be ensured through the ballot paper.

About the EC Secretariat's separation from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), he said he hopes the EC Secretariat would be separated from the PMO.

"We will send a draft to the chief adviser this week. However, we do not want an amendment to the constitution. The secretariat will be brought under the commission through an ordinance," he said.

Sakhawat said a tender might be floated on Friday as the tender proposal for acquiring equipments and supplies for voter enrolment activities is ready.

About the voter list pilot project that begins on June 10 at Sripur, he said people's representatives would be involved in the voter enrolment activities through a three-member team including a ward commissioner and his nearest contestant in polls. Municipality chairmen will be involved at upazila levels, he added.

Sakhawat also said discussion with political parties is required as there are proposals like 33 percent women representatives in party ranks and positions and de-linking of their front organisations and branches abroad.

According to a draft proposal set by the commission, a political party will not be allowed to participate in the elections if it has any front organisations or branches abroad.

Earlier, a three-member National Democratic Institute (NDI) team led by Deborah Healy met the chief election commissioner at his office. Election commissioners Sahul Hossain and Sakhawat Hossain were present in the meeting.

After the meeting Deborah Healy told reporters that the NDI would hold a conference on how to ensure facilities for physically challenged people in the election process. She said they informed the EC about the election model of Ireland and urged the EC to send representative to the conference.

"We are thinking about having information on the registration form to identify the physically challenged people," Sakhawat said.