(3)Any candidate not already a respondent shall, upon application made by him to the prescribed authority within fourteen days from the date of commencement of the trial and subject to any order as to security for costs which may be made by the prescribed authority, be entitled to be joined as a respondent.Explanation:- For the purpose of this section, a trial of petition shall be deemed to commence on the date fixed for the respondents to appear before the prescribed authority and answer the claim or claims made in the petition.
