A total of 1,967 candidates will contest the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election scheduled for February 12, according to data released by the Election Commission (EC) Secretariat late last night.

The EC said 305 aspirants withdrew their candidacy.

The EC Secretariat released the updated figures following the completion of nomination submission, scrutiny, appeals, withdrawals, and the finalisation of the list of contesting candidates.

The deadline for withdrawal of candidacy ended yesterday. The EC will allocate electoral symbols from today, while election campaigning will begin on January 22.

Of the 639 individuals who appealed against decisions of returning officers, 431 regained their candidacy after hearings.

Earlier, 2,585 nomination papers had been submitted to the EC to contest the 13th national election.