The returning officers have verbally warned ruling Awami League lawmakers Dipu Moni and Aftabuddin Sarker of Chandpur and Nilphamari about violating electoral codes of the upcoming district council elections.

Elections to 61 district councils will be held on December 28. Elected representatives of different local government bodies are the voters.

In Chandpur, the RO warned Dipu Moni of Chandpur-3 constituency following allegation raised by chairman candidate Osman Gani Patwari that the MP was influencing voters to vote for chairman aspirant Nurul Amin Ruhul.

On December 22, Patwari filed a complaint with the RO, alleging that Dipu Moni held a meeting with voters and tried to influence them by offering benefits.

"We have received the allegation and on the same day we verbally warned the lawmaker not to violate electoral codes," Abdus Sabur Mandal, the RO and deputy commissioner of Chandpur, told The Daily Star yesterday.

When contacted Dipu Moni, also joint general secretary of AL central committee, told the newspaper, "I have not violated any code and I always follow rules."

Nilphamari RO yesterday verbally warned lawmaker Aftabuddin of Nilphamari-1 in connection with influencing voters.

"We investigated the allegation, but did not find it to be true. But we made the lawmaker aware of the complaints and reminded him to follow the electoral code," Zakir Hossain, returning officer and DC of Nilphamari, told The Daily Star.

When contacted, Aftabuddin denied any wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, polls to the chairman post of Kushtia district council has been postponed due to legal complications over the nominations of a candidate.

The Election Commission in a letter on Friday asked the RO to postpone the polls, said officials of the RO's office.

EC Secretary Muhammad Abdullah said voting to the chairman post has been postponed as a case was pending with the High Court regarding the cancellation of nomination of a candidate.