DUSHANBE, July 23, 2014, Asia-Plus -- The Communist Party of Tajikistan (CPT) has set up a group to work out the party election program. 

CPT secretary Ismoil Talbakov, who is also member of Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament, says they are currently making preparations for the party plenum that will take place in Dushanbe in September.

“The plenum will endorse delegate quotas for the party congress scheduled for December,” said Talbakov.  “The congress will determine the list of our candidates who will run in the parliamentary elections in February next year.”

According to him, the CPT board has sent recommendations on nominating parliamentary candidates to its primary organizations in the provinces.

“We have ordered our organizations in the provinces to nominate worthy candidates irrespective of their party belonging,” Talbakov noted.  

Founded in 1918, the Communist Party of Tajikistan was registered in 1991.  According to some source, the party now has more than 45,000 members.  Shodi Shabdolov is leader of the party.    

Under Tajikistan’s election legislation, the date for parliamentary elections is established no later than 75 days before the end of the term of the parliament.  The term of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) expires on February 28, 2015.  Elections to the upper house (Majlisi Milli) of parliament will be carried out 25 days after elections to the Majlisi Namoyandagon.