Kathmandu, February 12:

Chief Election Commissioner Keshav Raj Rajbhandari today said that the 22 per cent voting in the municipal election was a sign of “success” given the circumstances in which it was conducted.

He, however, refrained from mentioning that the last local election in Nepal drew over 60 per cent of voters.

“The majority of people didn’t cast their votes due to intimidation and threats. In the present context, the voting was praiseworthy and the election was a successful one,” he said while addressing a press meet at the Election Commission (EC).

“Amid all the criticism, the polls were held. It was a constitutional election held by a constitutional body and with enthusiastic participation of the political parties,” he said.

Rajbhandari urged all the political parties to look at the local elections and politics in different lights.

“Those who are mired in politics keep doing politics but the ones who win election bring development,” he said.

He said the EC had not formally acknowledged the boycott of the polls by the political parties and nor had the election body any idea of the criticisms of the polls by foreign governments.

About the qualifications of the candidates, he said: “Qualification makes little difference if the candidates can bring development to their constituencies.”

Rajbhandari said the commission would soon begin preparations for next round of election in remaining municipalities and vacant posts.