407 candidates file nominations for 42 local posts

KATHMANDU: A total of 407 candidates have filed nomination papers for 42 vacant posts in the upcoming local-level by-elections, according to the Election Commission (EC).

For eight vacant positions of chairperson and vice-chairperson of rural municipalities, as well as mayor and deputy mayor of municipalities, 84 candidates have filed nominations. This includes 35 women, 48 men, and one from another gender.

Similarly, for 34 vacant positions of ward chairperson in rural and municipal wards, 323 candidates have filed nominations, comprising 29 women, 293 men, and one from another gender, as informed by Election Commission spokesperson Nita Pokharel Aryal.

In Kailali district, two women have filed nominations for the district coordination committee (DCC) chief position, while one man has filed for the same position in Okhaldhunga district.

Dhanusha district has the highest number of nominations, while Rukum East and Bajhang districts recorded the lowest. The highest number of nominations, 21, was for the ward chairperson position in Ward No. 1 of Dhanushadham Municipality, Dhanusha. Meanwhile, the lowest, three nominations each, was for ward chairperson positions in Putha Uttarganga Rural Municipality-2 of Rukum East and Surma Rural Municipality-4 of Bajhang.

According to Assistant Secretary Pokharel, the nomination process was conducted peacefully and enthusiastically today, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the respective election offices.

The schedule ahead includes:

Mangsir 3 (Nov 18): Filing objections against candidates until 3 p.m.
Mangsir 4 (Nov 19): Verifying nominations and objections by 5 p.m. and publishing the candidate list by 6 p.m.
Mangsir 5 (Nov 20): Withdrawing candidacies, publishing the final list, and assigning election symbols between 3–5 p.m.
Mangsir 16 (Dec 1): Voting from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the designated polling centers.