Kathmandu, October 15

Political parties today filed the closed list of candidates for Proportional Representation elections of both assemblies — provincial and parliamentary — at the central office of the Election Commission.

All major political parties — the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN-Maoist Centre — and other regional and fringe parties submitted their list of PR candidates for all 110 seats of the parliamentary assembly and 220 seats of the provincial assemblies of seven provinces.

Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhi Prasad Yadav said that all the parties that had entered the premises of the EC until 5:00pm today could submit their PR lists.

Major political parties — NC, UML and CPN-MC — struggled to finalise the PR list till late evening. Those parties sent their representatives to the EC office at about 5:00pm, as per the EC’s rules. However, those representatives did not have the list of candidates. Senior NC leaders reached the EC in the afternoon and held a meeting, but they could not submit the final list till late evening.

The UML sent leaders Subas Chandra Nembang, Rajendra Pandey and Krishna Gopal Shrestha before 5:00pm but without a list of candidates. The final list was sent later.

CPN-MC Spokesperson Pampha Bhushal-led team had reached the EC to fulfil other procedures. She waited at the EC for over an hour to file the PR list, which was brought later by the party’s other leaders.

An NC source said that the party took time to finalise the PR list, as discussion was under way on unification with Nepal Democratic Forum.

Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal Chair Upendra Yadav-led team had reached the EC office in the afternoon to submit the list.

Likewise, the Naya Shakti Party-Nepal, Bibeksheel Sajha Party, the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Democratic, and others submitted their PR lists.

As per the law, political parties have to ensure 13.8 per cent representation for Dalits, 28.7 per cent for Adivashi, 31.2 per cent Khas/Arya, Madhesi 15.3 per cent, Tharu 3.6 per cent and Muslim 4.4 per cent in the PR list. Out of 110 seats in the parliamentary assembly and 220 seats in provincial assemblies, parties have to ensure 50 per cent women’s representation in both assemblies.

The EC said it would let parties correct their name lists from October 16 to 23. Parties will have to submit amended list of candidates to the EC between October 23 and 29. Candidates can withdraw their names from the close list between 10:00am and 5:00pm on October 30. Parties can replace their candidates from October 31 to November 1 between 10:00am and 5:00pm.

The EC will publish the close list of candidates from 10:00am to 5:00pm on November 3.

Political parties have to submit the list of candidates of the First-Past-the-Post election of 32 districts on October 22, where elections are scheduled on November 26.

Meanwhile, CEC Ayodhi Prasad Yadav said that political parties had submitted the closed list of PR candidates in a decent and disciplined manner.

Addressing a press meet at the EC’s Media Centre, Yadav appealed to all the people, political parties and government for help to make the upcoming elections successful. “I would like to urge all stakeholders to show harmony and high morality in the elections,” said Yadav.