KULOB, March 26, 2012, Asia-Plus — Members of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have won in two March 25 by-elections to the local council (City Majlis) in the city of Kulob.
We will recall that by-elections took place in constituencies ## 1 and 5 after two seats in the Kulob legislature have become vacant between general elections.
The Kulob Mayor Abdullo Homidov and Deputy Kulob Mayor Pirmad Zaripov represented these constituencies in the Kulob legislature. Abdullo Homidov was appointed Mayor of the City of Norak and Pirmad Zaripov was appointed Chairman of the Muminobod District.
Newly appointed Mayor of Kulob Abdughaffor Rahmonov (he was nominated by PDP) and head of the Islamic Revival Party (IRP)’s organization for the Kulob region Sharif Nabiyev competed for the seat in constituency # 1.
The electoral commission claimed a turnout of 95 percent in constituency # 1. Rahmonov reportedly won with 96.3 percent of the vote, with his opponent, Sharif Nabiyev of IRP, garnering just 3.2 percent.
Meanwhile, representatives of PDP, IRP and the Democratic Party (DPT) competed for the seat in constituency # 5. Deputy Kulob Mayor Rustam Nematov (PDP), head of the IRP’s organization for the city of Kulob Abdusamad Ghairatov and head of the DPT’s organization for the Kulob region Amrokhon Safarov ran for the seat in this constituency.
According to the electoral commission, the turnout was estimated at 85 percent. Nematov reportedly won in the by-election with 91 percent of the vote, while Ghairatov and Safarov received 6.3 and 2.0 percent of the vote respectively.
The ruling People’s Democratic Party now controls 36 of 40 sets in the Kulob local council.
