Incumbent Mayor Sharfuddin Ahmed Jhantu has got the ruling Awami League's nomination to run for mayor in Rangpur City Corporation polls scheduled for December 21.

A meeting of the AL's Local Government Nomination Board yesterday unanimously decided this. The meeting was held at Gono Bhaban with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, says a party statement.

Jhantu, adviser of Rangpur district unit AL, secured victory in the maiden RCC election held on December 20, 2012. He ran as an independent back then.

The board has interviewed 16 nomination seekers and selected Jhantu as the AL candidate.

Jhantu has a long career as a public representative.

He was elected an upazila chairman in 1987 and the chairman of Rangpur Municipality in 1992. He also became a lawmaker with Jatiya Party ticket in 1996. Later he joined the Awami League.

Jatiya Party has already announced Mostafizur Rahman Mostofa, president of its Rangpur city unit, as its mayor candidate.

The Election Commission on November 5 declared the schedule for the RCC election.

According to the schedule, the last date for submission of nomination papers is November 22. The submitted nomination papers would be scrutinised on November 25-26 and the last day of withdrawal is December 3.

Electoral symbols would be allocated on December 4.