Thirteen candidates have filed nomination papers for the mayoral post in the Rangpur City Corporation (RCC) polls, slated for December 20.

Of them, 12 turned in theirapplications yesterday, thelastday forsubmission.

As many as 357candidates for councillor posts and 92 candidates for women's reserved councillor posts have also filed their nomination papers, said Monirul Islam, zonal election officer of Rangpur, also the returning officer of the city corporation polls.

Moshiur Rahman Ranga, presidium member of Jatiya Party (JP-Ershad), AKM Abdur Rauf Manik, former organising secretary of JP central committee and former Rangpur municipality mayor, and Mostafizar Rahman Mostafa, former chairman of Rangpur Sadar Upazila Parishad and member secretary of JP Rangpur district unit, filed nomination papers yesterday.

Earlier on November 6, the Jatiya

Party (JP) announced its support to Moshiur Rahman Ranga for contesting the Rangpur city mayoral election.

Firoz Kabir Chowdhury Gunjan, former general secretary of Rangpur Sadar upazila unit of ruling Awami League (AL), filed his nomination paper on Saturday while Sharfuddin Ahmed Jhantu, former lawmaker and member of advisory committee of Rangpur district unit AL, and Shafiar Rafman Shafi, president of AL Rangpur city unit, submitted their nomination papers yesterday.

Local leaders of AL are preparing to enter the battle of ballots although the party is yet to announce support for any mayoral aspirant.

The others who applied for mayoral candidacy yesterday include Kayser Zaman Babla, former president of Rangpur municipality unit BNP, Majirul Islam Liton, general secretary ofWorkers Party Rangpur district unit, Faruk Aziz Shahin of Nagorik Oikyo and

ATM Golam Mostafa of Islami Shashontantra Andolan, Mehedy Hasan, Kayumuzzaman, and Ali HaydarDulu.

Main opposition BNP has not yet expressed any interest to contest the Rangpur city corporation polls.

Meanwhile on November 11, around 700 leaders and activists of Rangpur district committee of JP (Ershad) resigned en masse in protest against extending party support to Moshiur Rahman Ranga for the mayoral post.

Others two JP candidates for the mayoral post — Manik and Mostafa also resigned from their party post.

After submitting their resignation letters, Manik and Mostafa also announced forming of a new party named 'Trinamool Jatiya Party'.

The Election Commission officials will scrutinise the applications of candidates on November 21 and November 22.

The last day for withdrawal of candidacy is November 29.