DUSHANBE, May 31, Asia-Plus - The next parliamentary by-election will be held in the Bokhtar constituency, Khatlon, on July 8. 

The by-election will be held to fill the seat representing the Bokhtar district in the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) that has become vacant between general elections as incumbent MP representing this constituency, Muhriddin Sheraliyev, has been resigned in connection with being appointed to head state cotton corporation.   

Muhibullo Dodojonov, a spokesman for the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER) told Asia-Plus that three candidates – member of Tajikistan’s ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDPT) Amirbek Mahmadaliyev, who is deputy head of the Khatlon agriculture directorate, member of the Agrarian Party (APT) also head of the Bokhtar firm Zarzamin Abdusalom Mirzoyev and self-propelled candidate Tesha Afgnonov (secretary of Zargar jamoat in the Bokhtar district) – will contest the seat.  

The candidates were registered with the CCER on May 23, Dodojonov said. 

PDPT headed by President Emomali Rahmon currently controls some 73 percent of the seats in the lower house of the Tajik parliament, holding 46 of 63 seats.