KATHMANDU, JANUARY 13 A total of 175 candidates representing 17 election symbols have withdrawn their names from the closed lists for the proportional representation segment of the House of Representatives (HoR) elections scheduled for March 5. The Election Commission (EC) had announced that candidates included in the closed lists could withdraw their names between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm on January 12 (Monday). Assistant Spokesperson of the EC, Kul Bahadur GC, confirmed that a total of 175 candidates across 17 election symbols exercised their right to withdraw within the designated period. Among those withdrawing were candidates from political parties that had submitted names in the closed list under a single election symbol. Assistant Spokesperson GC noted that the highest number of withdrawals came from the Loktantrik Samajwadi Party (LSP), which pulled 110 candidates from the closed list following the formation of an electoral alliance with other parties. Similarly, the EC reported that 20 candidates from Janamat Party, 12 from Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), six from Janadesh Party Nepal, and five from CPN (UML) withdrew their names. Four candidates each from Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) and Rashtranirman Dal Nepal also withdrew, while two candidates each from Nepali Congress, Unnat Loktantrik Party, Nepali Communist Party, and Rastriya Swatantra Party pulled their nominations. In addition, one candidate each from the United Democratic National Forum, United Citizens Party, Rastriya Mukti Party Nepal, and Janata Samajwadi Party-under the single election symbol 'Janto (Grinder)'-withdrew their names. Likewise, one candidate each from Gatishil Loktantrik Party, Nepal Janata Party, and Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party withdrew their nominations. It may be noted that the political parties had submitted their closed lists for the proportional representation system on December 28–29. (With inputs from Rastriya Samchar Samiti)