CAIRO, Mar 5 (Aswat Masriya) – The Supreme Electoral Commission (SEC) said Saturday it will start accepting applications from parliamentary hopefuls in Daqahlia province to replace expelled lawmaker Tawfik Okasha.

The House of Representatives voted last Wednesday on the expulsion of Okasha because of his recent meeting with the Israeli ambassador in Cairo. The majority of votes, 465 out of 596, were in favour of Okasha's removal.

Okasha's meeting with the Israeli ambassador Haim Koren on Feb. 24 sparked controversy and public outrage, even prompting lawmaker Kamal Ahmed, to throw a shoe at Okasha.

Okasha held his position in the legislature for less than two months since Egypt's House of Representatives first convened on Jan. 10.

SEC called on voters to head to the polls in Daqahlia province for the election process which will take place over the course of three days, Apr. 15-17, inside Egypt and abroad.