QURGHON TEPPA, July 3, Asia-Plus — Member of the Agrarian Party (APT) competing for vacant seat in the lower house of the Tajik parliament in a July 8 by-election in the Bokhtar district, Abdusalom Mirzoyev, has applied to the local authorities asking them not to interfere to the voting process. 

He remarked this at a meeting with voters and representatives from the local authorities of Bokhtar on July 2. 

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Mirzoyev said that he has so far held 83 meetings with voters.  “Unfortunately, the other contenders to the seat have refused to hold a joint meeting with voters,” said the APT member, “I feel support of other political parties and I coordinate my actions with them.”  

            In the meantime, an activist of the Mahmadruzi Iskandarov-run wing of the Democratic Party noted that they cold support candidacy of Mirzoyev.   

            Chairman of the Islamic Revival Party’s (IRPT) organization for Khatlon Qalandar Sadruddinov noted that the IRPT is also ready to support Mirzoyev’s candidacy.  “Although our party has decided to hold neutral position, we are ready to support Abdusalom Mirzoyev.” 

            Khayrullo Davlatov, the editor-in-chief of the Qurghon Teppa independent weekly Bomdod commenting this situation noted, “Apparently, political parties realize that it is hard to make success in elections one by one, and therefore, it would be perfectly reasonable to create coalition.” 

The Bokhtar constituency numbers more than 69,000 voters.  Three candidates, including member of ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDPT) Amirbek Mahmadalieyv, who is the deputy head of the Khatlon agriculture directorate, member of the Agrarian party (APT) Abdusalom Mirzoyev, who heads the Bokhtar company Zarzamin, and the self-propelled Tezha Afghnov, who serves as secretary with Zargar Jamoat of Bokhtar, are competing for the seat representing the Bokhtar district in the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament)..   

We will recall that members of Tajikistan''s ruling People''s Democratic Party have won in three April 1 and two May 20 parliamentary by-elections.   ф