JHAPA, JUNE 8

A review of the recently held local elections and discussion regarding the need for improvements in the upcoming election was held in Jhapa today.

Speaking at the discussion held in Birtamode, Chief Election Officer Giriraj Gautam noted that in Jhapa the recent elections were held in a free and fair manner.

'There was no written complaint regarding violation of election codes; whatever oral complaints we had, we addressed them then and there,' Gautam said.

'Though we had tried our best to ensure that no one faces difficulty in exercising their voting right, there were problems at some places as we didn't have disabled-friendly infrastructure,' the chief election officer added, suggesting that the local governments start constructing disabled-friendly structures from now itself.

On the occasion, Chief District Officer Chhabi Rijal thanked all sides that helped to hold the election in a peaceful way.

'We have a good political culture in Jhapa, which has made it possible for us to hold elections peacefully here,' he said, adding that the lessons learnt from this election would help improve the election scenario in the next election.

District Election Officer Chief Tulasikumar Nepal also took the opportunity to note the positive support received from all sides in holding the election in a free and fair manner.

He also informed that some 20 per cent votes for the candidates of the local level chiefs and deputy chiefs and 10 per cent for the candidates of other posts were declared void. Similarly, two per cent of votes were totally invalid, he said.

Election supervisor Rupak Khanal shared his experience of attempts by candidates to influence voters. He particularly mentioned some cases of public feasts organised near election centres and the practice of banning wheelchairs in voting centres.

A version of this article appears in the print on June 9, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.