Kathmandu, January 25
The Election Commission has stated that more than 50 per cent of votes had been cast by 12:45 pm in the election for National Assembly members being held today at the capitals of all seven provinces.
The election, which began at 9 am and will conclude at 3 pm, is being held to fill 17 National Assembly seats that will fall vacant from Falgun 20. More than half of the total votes have already been cast.
According to the Commission’s Assistant Spokesperson Kul Bahadur Jisi, as of now, 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 Sudurpashchim Province.
Out of the 18 seats to be vacated, one seat under the Khas-Arya category in Koshi Province was filled unopposed. Voting is currently underway for the remaining 17 seats. Nepali Congress candidate Sunil Bahadur Thapa was elected unopposed for the Khas-Arya seat from Koshi Province.
The Election Commission said voting is taking place at the Provincial Election Office premises in Biratnagar, Morang (Koshi Province); Mahendranarayan Nidhi Mithila Culture Centre, Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan City Ward No. 4, Dhanusha (Madhesh Province); and Bhutandevi Secondary School, Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City Ward No. 4, Makwanpur (Bagmati Province).
Similarly, voting is ongoing at the Provincial Election Office premises in Pokhara, Kaski (Gandaki Province); Employees’ Milan Centre in Ghorahi, Dang (Lumbini Province); the Provincial Election Office premises in Birendranagar, Surkhet (Karnali Province); and the Provincial Election Office premises in Dhangadhi, Kailali (Sudurpashchim Province).
For the National Assembly election, an electoral college comprising provincial assembly members, mayors and deputy mayors, and chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of rural municipalities has been formed. Of the total 2,056 voters, the Commission said 2,011 are currently eligible due to various reasons.
