SHARQIYA, Nov. 15 (Aswat Masriya) – As was the case in phase one of house elections at most of Egypt’s 14 provinces last month, in Sharqiya, the hometown of ousted Islamist President Mohamed Mursi, former members of the now-defunct National Democratic (NDP) as well as ex-military and police figures dominate the scene.

The third most populated province in Egypt, Shariqya is home to 6.48 million citizens, more than half of them, 3.84 million, are eligible voters.

Of the 328 candidates vying for one of the 30 individual seats up for grabs in the second phase of House of Representatives elections, there are only 11 woman candidates (10 of whom are ex-NDP who won seats in the 2010 elections), 101 candidates representing 20 political parties and 227 independents competing in 13 constituencies.

For the Love of Egypt coalition is the only list fielding seven in the party list system, including two women, as per the quota stipulated by the elections law.

Ex-NDP members running in all constituencies are expected to garner the highest number of votes on the back of strong family networks and their financial ability to offer public and private services.

Participation by religious parties is limited, with the Salafi Nour Party fielding merely 11 competing in 11 of the province’s 13 constituencies.

The Muslim Brotherhood group, now designated a “terrorist organization” after its sweeping victory in the 2012 elections and the military ouster of Mursi in 2013 and the ensuing crackdown on the group, is conspicuously absent from the race which they have publically boycotted.

Al-Adwa village, Mursi’s birthplace, is particularly empty of any campaign material.

The electoral campaigns were mostly traditional, marked by connections with big and powerful families and appeals to voters who are mostly illiterate.  

While several candidates clearly violated the electoral campaign regulations announced by the Supreme Electoral Commission (SEC), no complaints were filed against them, nor did SEC take any action against candidates who kicked off their campaigns before the designated window which ends on Nov. 18.