5. Replacement of section 18 of the principal enactment

Section 18 of the principal enactment is hereby repealed, and the following new section substituted therefor:—

18. (1) Where the candidates of only one recognized political party or one independent group stand nominated for election, the returning officer shall declare the candidates on the electorate list of such party or group as having been elected as members of that

Provincial Council, and shall call upon the secretary of such recognized political party or the group leader of such independent group to decide, within such period as may be specified by the returning officer, which of the candidates whose names appear in the District

List shall be declared elected as additional members of that Provincial Council. Where such secretary or group leader communicates his decision to the returning officer within the

“Uncontested election.

Act, No. 17 of 2017

period specified by the returning officer, the returning officer shall declare such candidates elected as additional members of that Provincial

Council. Where such secretary or independent group leader fails to communicate his decision to the returning officer within the period specified by the returning officer, then such number of candidates, in the order in which their names appear in such district list, as is equal to the number of additional members to be elected to that Provincial Council, shall be declared elected as members. The provisions of section 58B shall apply to such nominations.

The provisions of section 58B shall apply to any nomination made by such Secretary or independent group leader, as the case may be or to any declaration made by the returning officer under this subsection.

The returning officer shall forthwith make a return which shall be substantially in the prescribed form, to the Commissioner who shall cause the names of the members so elected to be published in the Gazette.”.