Kathmandu, December 7

Voters of Kathmandu district enthusiastically participated in the second phase of provincial and parliamentary polls. They stood in the queue from early morning to cast their votes.

Most of the voters in Kathmandu constituency-5 could cast their votes within five minutes. Only in some places, they had to wait in the queue for about 45 minutes to cast their votes. Elderly people and voters with disabilities were given priority to cast their votes.

Sujan Karki, a voter at Kathmandu Valley School polling station, which falls in Kathmandu constituency-5, said he was able to cast his vote within five minutes.

“Arrangement inside the polling station was very good. Elderly citizens and voters with disabilities were given priority and other voters fully cooperated,” he said and added that he did not have any fear about poll security.

“Explosions being carried out by anti-poll forces cannot disrupt such a significant election,” he added. He, however, said the stamp ink used to cast vote was not very strong.

He said these elections were important for the implementation of the new constitution.

Ichchha Gurung, a voter at the same polling station, said she could cast her vote within five minutes. “I am an educated voter so I did not have to face any problem, but since PR ballot papers are overly long it is confusing to ordinary and uneducated voters,” she said.

Gurung said she voted for a party which she believed would ensure political stability in the country.

Ninety-nine-year old Sabitri Paudel, who cast her vote with the help of her daughter-in-law Srijana Lamsal said she wanted the winner to increase pension for elderly people like her.

Angela Khadka, a voter of Bansbari Club polling station, said she could cast her vote without any hassle. “But I want the government to allow voters to cast their votes electronically from next time,” she said.

Hari Gurung, a voter of Kathmandu constituency-5, said he had cast his vote from Bansbari Club polling station during the local polls but this time he did not find his name in the voter list there.

“I had voted from two different polling stations before the local polls. I do not know if my name is in another voter list. I do not have time to go and search my name in another voter list because I have to go to my office now,” he said.

Balram Paudel, a voter of Kathmandu constituency-5, who cast his vote at the Maharajgunj polling station said he liked the arrangement made in the polling booths. He said he did not have any fear about security.

Another voter at the same polling booth Shankar Shrestha said he could cast his vote within 20 minutes after entering the polling booth. “I am a committed voter and I voted for one of the old parties as I have always done,” he said and added that the provincial and parliamentary polls were important as they would help accelerate the pace of development.

Navaraj Bishwakarma, however, could not cast his vote as his name was not on the voter list. He said he could not update his name on the voter list as he was in Qatar when the Election Commission updated it.

Voters at Dhapasi-based Tilingtar High School polling station also said they could easily cast their votes. Amar Singh, a voter of the same polling station said he could vote within an hour. He said the polls were crucial to institutionalise the new political changes. He said the employees took a bit long to find his name due to change in the serial number.

Voters were given second and third ballot papers only after they stamped their first ballot paper and cast their votes.

Polling Officer of Bansbari Club polling station Ajay Kumar Sapkota said voters were given only one type of a ballot paper at a time to eliminate chances of confusion and overlapping of ink.

Left Alliance candidate Ishwar Pokharel and Nepali Congress candidate Prakash Sharan Mahat are contesting from this constituency.