By-election witnesses 65.43 pc vote cast

Kathmandu, Nov. 30

About 65.43 per cent votes were cast in the by-elections held on Saturday in 537 polling centres in 37 districts to elect representatives to the vacant posts at the federal and provincial parliaments and local bodies.

According to preliminary assessments, of the total 454,114 voters, 297,137 have cast their votes in the election, the Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) said at a press conference organised at its office Saturday evening.

“Kaski constituency 2 witnessed the cast of 65 per cent vote. 11 candidates are in the helm aspiring to be elected to the House of Representatives,” said Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Prasad Thapaliya.

The constituency was without representatives after Rabindra Adhikari died in a chopper crash in Taplejung district in February this year.

Kharpunath Rural Municipality in Humla district witnessed the highest vote cast with 85 per cent voters showing up and Thabang Rural Municipality ward no. 1 witnessed the least voting with just 16.4 per cent.

Likewise, 70 per cent, 61 per cent and 67 per cent votes were cast in provincial assembly elections in Bhaktapur, Baglung and Dang districts.

Similarly, in terms of local bodies, Dharan Sub-metropolitan City had 59 per cent vote cast for its mayoral election. Election for the chairs of Falgunanda, Makalu and Pipara Rural Municipality had 66 per cent, 65 per cent and 60 per cent votes cast respectively.

According to the ECN, 11 political parties are contesting for the House of Representatives while 15 are fighting for provincial lawmakers and 20 for local level members.

There are 337 candidates contesting the election of which 253 are from political parties and 84 are independent, said Thapaliya.

He said that the ECN had made special arrangements for the senior citizens, pregnant women, differently able, and other vulnerable people. Gaura Kamat, 97, cast votes in Gyanodaya Secondary School in Kobang of Baglung district. Biruwa Dhanuk, 99, also cast vote in Siddartha Basic School in Kohalpur of Banke district.

The ECN also noted that the elections were successfully held in a peaceful and fair manner.

“About 419 members from four election monitoring organisations and representatives from various diplomatic missions observed the election. They said that the elections were held in free, fair and peaceful way,” said Thapaliya.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 1 December 2019.