Pokhara, June 4

As many as 706 candidates who contested the first phase of the civic polls on May 14 in four rural municipalities and one metropolitan city lost their security deposit in Kaski.

A large number of candidates lost their deposit as they failed to secure ten per cent votes out of the total valid votes cast. Kaski had 1,520 candidates from 13 different political parties and 20 independent candidates. Of them, thirty had withdrawn their candidacy.

A total of 843 candidates had filed their candidacy for the post of mayor, deputy mayor, ward chair and members at 33 wards in Lekhnath-Pokhara Metropolitan City.

Similarly, 112 candidates had filed their candidacy for various posts at Rupa Rural Municipality. There were 210, 187, and 168 candidates, who had registered their nomination for different posts in Annapurna, Machhaphuchre, and Madi rural municipalities respectively.

According to Election Officer Gangalal Subedi, candidates for mayor, deputy mayor and ward chair had submitted Rs 1,500 while ward member candidates had submitted Rs 500 as security deposit at the regional Police Office in Pokhara.