KATHMANDU: The Election Commission (EC) has stated that more than 50 percent of votes had been cast by 12:45 pm in the National Assembly (NA) elections being held today across the capitals of all seven provinces.
The elections, which began at 9:00 am and are scheduled to conclude at 3:00 pm, are being held to fill 17 vacant posts in the National Assembly starting from 20 Falgun. So far, 313 votes have been cast in Koshi Province, 227 in Madhesh Province, 217 in Bagmati Province, 180 in Gandaki Province, 163 in Lumbini Province, 145 in Karnali Province, and 186 in Sudurpaschim Province, according to Assistant Spokesperson of the Commission, Kul Bahadur GC.
Out of the 18 vacant posts, one post from the Khas-Arya category in Koshi Province was filled unopposed. Sunil Bahadur Thapa of the Nepali Congress was elected unopposed as the candidate for the Khas-Arya category in Koshi Province, while voting continues for the remaining 17 posts.
Voting is taking place at designated venues across the provinces, including the Provincial Election Office in Biratnagar, Koshi Province; Mahendra Narayan Nidhi Mithila Cultural Center, Janakpur, Madhesh Province; Bhutan Devi Secondary School, Hetauda, Bagmati Province; the Provincial Election Office in Pokhara, Gandaki Province; the Employee Meeting Center in Ghorahi, Lumbini Province; the Provincial Election Office in Birendranagar, Karnali Province; and the Provincial Election Office in Dhangadhi, Sudurpaschim Province.
For the National Assembly elections, the electoral college consists of provincial assembly members, mayors and deputy mayors, and chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of rural municipalities. While the total number of registered voters is 2,056, the Commission reported that 2,011 were eligible to vote in today’s election due to various circumstances.
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