DUSHANBE, January 17, 2015, Asia-Plus -- 212 candidates have been nominated to compete for 41 seats in Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament in single-mandate constituencies.

“108 candidates have been nominated by political parties and 104 others are self-propelled candidates,” Abdimannon Dodozoda, the head of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER)’s office, told Asia-Plus in an interview.

He further added that the process of an official registration of candidates starts on January 18 and will last until February 9.

The 2015 parliamentary elections in Tajikistan will take place on March 1, 2015.

Tajikistan’s Parliament (Majlisi Oli) has two chambers: the Assembly of Representatives (Majlisi Namoyandagon) and the National Assembly (Majlisi Milli).  Majlisi Namoyandagon has 63 members, elected for a five-year term in, 22 by proportional representation (party list) and 41 in single-seat constituencies.  Majlisi Milli has 33 members, 25 elected for a five-year term by local legislature (majlis) members and eight appointed by the president.