Hetauda, May 3

Makawanpur witnessed zero complaint against the nomination of election candidates today. The Election Commission had urged that complaints, if any, be filed against the nominated candidates, from 10:00am to 1:00pm today.

“As we received no complaint against the nominations today, nomination papers will be checked tomorrow; any candidate willing to withdraw their candidacy will be able to do so from 1:00pm tomorrow,” said Chief Election Officer Sheshraj Dahal, adding that his office as per scheduled would publish the final list of candidates at 10:00am on Friday.

A total of 18 persons representing various political parties and independent candidates have filed their nominations for the mayoral post in Hetauda Sub-metropolis. The number of candidates fighting for the post of deputy mayor is 13. Similarly, eight and six candidates have filed their candidacy for the post of mayor and deputy mayor respectively from Thaha Municipality.

In the district, Nepal Communist Party is said to be supporting the CPN-UML. As per the information provided at a press conference in Hetauda today, the party said it opted to support the UML after the Election Commission refused to provide election symbol to the party and other small parties.

Meanwhile, seven candidates have been elected unopposed as ward members from different local bodies in the district. The elected candidates, all of whom are from Dalit community, made it after no other nominations were filed from rival parties to challenge them.

NC candidates Laxmi Damai, Uddhavmaya Darji and Thulimaya Bishwokarma have been elected unopposed in Indra Sarobar, Kailash and Makawanpurgadi Rural Municipalities respectively. Similarly, Lalimaya Bishwokarma and Shanta Bishwokarma were elected unopposed from the CPN-UML in Bakaiya Rural Municipality. As for the CPN-MC, Bishnumaya Bishwokarma and Kamala Bishwokarma were elected as ward members without any rivals contesting from other parties from Bagmati and Manahari rural municipalities respectively.

According to Chief Election Officer Dayaram Dhakal, declaration of election of candidates will be made later. Makawanpur comprises one sub-metropolis and municipality and six rural municipalities.