TALUQAN, Afghanistan, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- The death toll has risen to 22, wheile 36 others wounded in a bomb blast on an election gathering organized by a female candidate, Nazifa Big Yusufi, in northern province of Takhar, a provincial government spokesman said Sunday.

"The latest figures by provincial authorities indicated that 22 people were killed and 36 others wounded in Saturday's bomb blast in Rustaq district of Takhar province," Mohammad Jawad Hejri told Xinhua.

The initial information by the provincial police department also showed that the blast was not a suicide bombing but the explosion was occurred after an improvised explosive devices (IEDs) attached to a motorcycle was detonated by a time device, he said.

The long-delayed parliamentary and district council elections are expected to be held on Oct. 20.

More than 2,500 candidates from 33 out of 34 provinces, excluding Ghazni, will stand for the parliament's 249 seats.

Nearly 9 million registered voters, including 3 million women, will cast their ballots to elect the lawmakers for a five-year term while they will also vote to elect members of the district councils.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.