It appears that none of the major political parties have been able to finalise the list of their candidates

Kathmandu, November 2

With less than a week remaining for filing candidature for the upcoming by-elections, major political parties are scrambling to finalise their candidates.

The by-elections will be held on November 30 for 52 vacant posts of people’s representatives — one member of the House of Representatives, three provincial assembly members and 48 chiefs, deputy chiefs and ward chairs of local levels.

While the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) and main opposition Nepali Congress plan to finalise their candidates by tomorrow, Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal and Samajwadi Party-Nepal, are studying recommendations from their lower units.

A meeting of the NCP Central Secretariat today discussed recommendations forwarded by its district and provincial units. The meeting that began at 10:00am in Baluwatar lasted for three hours, but could not decide.

Talking to journalists after the meeting, NCP Spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha said the meeting held preliminary discussions on the names forwarded by the party’s regional election coordination committees, and district and provincial bodies. He said the party secretariat would meet again tomorrow and finalise candidates. “We have received many names from lower units. Things will be finalised tomorrow,” he said.

The main opposition Nepali Congress plans to hold a meeting of its office bearers at 3:00pm tomorrow to finalise candidates. A meeting of the party’s central working committee yesterday authorised the party’s office bearers to finalise candidates.

“We had asked our district and provincial bodies to forward three names for each post, but we have received numerous names,” said NC leader Prakash Sharan Mahat. “Hopefully, we will finalise the candidates tomorrow.”

Ruling coalition partner SP-N, on the other hand, is still studying the names of prospective candidates forwarded by

its lower-level bodies. SP-N leader Ram Sahay Yadav said the party would soon finalise the candidates.

RJP-N is still receiving recommendations from its lower units. RJP-N leader Keshav Jha attributed the delay to Chhath festival as people were busy with festivities. A meeting of the RJP-N Presidium to be convened on November 6 will finalise candidates, according to Jha.

Although by-elections are being held for 52 posts, all eyes are on Kaski Constituency-2 which fell vacant after Rabindra Adhikari lost his life in a helicopter crash in February.

Both the NCP and NC plan to field strong candidates as stakes are high. While NCP wants to retain the seat, the NC is expecting to cash in on ‘decreased popularity’ of the ruling party and show strong opposition presence.

The NCP has almost finalised late Adhikari’s wife Bidhya Bhattarai for Kaski Constituency-2, while the NC is considering a few candidates.

As per the by-elections schedule, aspiring candidates will have to file nominations on November 7 for HoR member in Kaski Constituency-2 and provincial assembly members in Bhaktapur Constituency-1, Baglung Constituency-2 and Dang Constituency-3.

The EC will publish the list of nominations the same day.

On November 8, complaints, if any, may be lodged against the nominations. The final list of candidates will be published on November 10.

Nominations of by-election candidates for local levels will be made on November 13. The EC said it would publish the final list of candidates on November 16.