DUSHANBE, January 20, 2012, Asia-Plus -- The Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER) has registered Abdurahmon Khonov, who had previously served as an official with the Committee on Youth, Sports and Tourism Affairs, as deputy of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament).

He replaced Hayot Odinayev, who represented the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the parliament.  Hayot Odinayev’s powers were terminated ahead of schedule in connection with his appointment as Chancellor of Tajik National University.

It is to be noted that Hayot Odinayev came to the parliament from the party list, and therefore, there was no by-election, he was just replaced by Abdurahmon Khonov who followed him on the party list.

We will recall that of 63 seats in the Majlisi Namoyandagon, 22 seats come from party lists. The remainder is elected in first-past-the-post races.

Founded in 1993, the People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan is the biggest political party in Tajikistan.  Its chairman is President Emomali Rahmon.  It is the largest party, boasting more than 152,000 registered members.  The party now controls some 70 percent of seats in the lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of the parliament.