KATHMANDU, JANUARY 25 Voting is taking place across all seven provinces today to elect 17 members to the National Assembly, as the Election Commission (EC) confirmed that all preparations have been completed. The election, being held from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm (11 Magh), is to fill 18 seats falling vacant from 20 Falgun 2082. One seat under the Khas Arya category in Koshi Province has already been decided uncontested. According to EC spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, Sunil Bahadur Thapa of the Nepali Congress has been elected unopposed to the Khas Arya seat from Koshi Province, while voting is underway for the remaining 17 seats. Polling centres have been set up at designated locations in all provinces: the Provincial Election Office in Biratnagar (Koshi); Mahendrarayan Nidhi Mithila Cultural Centre, Janakpur (Madhesh); Bhutandevi Secondary School, Hetauda (Bagmati); Provincial Election Office, Pokhara (Gandaki); Staff Gathering Centre, Ghorahi (Lumbini); Provincial Election Office, Birendranagar (Karnali); and Provincial Election Office, Dhangadhi (Sudurpashchim). Eligible voters include members of provincial assemblies, mayors and deputy mayors of municipalities, and chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of rural municipalities. (With inputs from RSS)