Kathmandu, March 10

Three National Assembly members — Ram Narayan Bidari, Yubaraj Khatiwada and Bimala Rai Paudyal — who were sworn in yesterday will not be able to vote in the presidential election.

The Election Commission issued a press release saying only those members of the Electoral College, whose names were published on March 6, could vote in the presidential election on March 13. The EC said that as per Section 21 of the Voter Rolls Act, no change could be made in the voter list after the final voter list was published.

Bidari, Khatiwada and Paudyal could not take oath on March 4, as the Supreme Court had stayed their swearing-in. The SC, however, vacated its stay order on March 7 following which the three NA members took oath of office and secrecy.

Meanwhile, the EC conducted a training programme for election officers, returning officer and other employees who will be deputed on presidential election duty.

Members of the Electoral College comprising members of the Parliament and provincial assemblies vote for president. Vote weightage of each member of Parliament (House of Representatives and National Assembly) will be 79 while vote weightage of Provincial Assembly members will be 48.