KATHMANDU: A total of 1,498 candidates have withdrawn their candidacies filed for the first round of local level elections, which is going to be held in Province 3, 4 and 6 on May 14.

According to the Election Commission, a total of 54 candidates in Kathmandu, 35 in Lalitpur, 32 in Bhaktapur, 26 in Kavre, 45 in Sindhupalchowk, 72 in Nuwakot, 57 in Dhading, 27 in Rasuwa, 16 in Sindhuli, 33 in Ramechhap, 47 in Dolakha, 36 in Makawanpur and 30 in Chitwan districts withdrew their candidacies.

Similarly, 30 candidates in Kaski, 16 in Manang, 59 in Syangja, 32 in Gorkha, 56 in Lamjung, 45 in Tanahu, 55 in Nawalparasi, 93 in Baglung, 40 in Parbat, 26 in Myagdi and 12 in Mustang districts withdrew their candidacies.

According to the EC, 25 candidates in Salyan, 39 in Surkhet, 56 in Rukum, 66 in Dailekh, 24 in Jajarkot, 123 in Kalikot, 30 in Mugu, 34 in Dolpa, 66 in Jumla and 61 in Humla districts also withdrew their candidacies.

The EC had set deadline till Thursday to withdraw candidacies.

A total of 49,207 people had filed their candidacies for 13,565 posts in the first-round of the elections