Dhankuta, July 5

As many as 358 candidates from various political parties lost their security deposit in the second phase of local level elections in Dhankuta.

A total of 1,206 candidates, including independents, representing 17 political parties had competed for 314 local level posts in the district that has 60 wards.

Of them, 358 candidates garnered less than 10 per cent of the total votes, resulting in forfeiture of their deposit amount, according to District Election Office, Dhankuta.

Among the candidates who forfeited their security deposit are 20 mayoral, 12 deputy mayoral and 75 ward chair candidates, informed Chief Returning Officer Kishwor Ghimire, adding that 251 candidates of various other posts also lost their security deposit in the elections.

According to Keshav Poudel, information officer at District Election Office, Dhankuta,  44 persons had registered their candidacy for the post of chief, 42 for deputy chief, 250 for ward chair and 870 others under the open, women and Dalit quotas, in the district.