Manama: Bahrain's next week parliamentary by-elections will be limited to 14 seats after four candidates running unopposed have reached the lower chamber ahead of the polls.
Jawad Abdullah Buhsayen and Abbas Eisa Al Madhi were the latest candidates to breeze through after their opponents in the Sixth Constituency in the Central Governorate and in the Sixth Constituency of the Muharraq Governorate pulled out on Tuesday, the last day for withdrawal.
"Jawad Abdullah won after his sole opponent Mohammad Al Abbas withdrew, while Abbas Al Madhi won his seat after Mohammad Ali Al Faraj and Mohsen Ahmad Sarhanm his two opponents pulled out," said Justice Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ali Al Khalifa.
Following withdrawals, the number of candidates for the elections on September 24 has now reached 57.
According to elections officials, 84 people filed to run in the by-elections to replace the 18 lawmakers from Al Wefaq society who had resigned in February, but nine applications were rejected and 75 accepted.
On September 3, Ahmad Al Durazi was declared winner of his constituency after his opponents pulled out and on Sunday Sawsan Al Taqawi made history by becoming the second woman to reach the lower chamber following the withdrawal of the other four candidates in the constituency.
Al Taqawi's victory was considered a new achievement in the drive to empower women politically in Bahrain.
