According to EC Spokesperson Bir Bahadur Rai, preliminary data shows that altogether 1,055 candidates have filed in the Western Development Region, 620 have filed in the Mid-western Development Region and 391 in the Far-western Development Region. [break]
Similarly, 1,536 candidates in the Eastern Development Region (excluding Siraha and Saptari districts) and 1,687 candidates in the Central Development Region (apart from Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Bara and Rautahat) have filed candidacy.
Altogether 420 female candidates and 549 independents have also filed candidacy across the country.
"Final figures on the candidacies filed will be availavble tomorrow," said Spokesperson Rai. Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety said that the filling of candidacies with returning officers was peaceful in all 240 election constituencies.
"The filing of candidacies marks the first key step in implementing the election program," Uprety told Republica, "It indicates that the forthcoming election will go ahead peacefully, with the participation of all pro-election forces in the country."
The chief election commissioner stated that the unfolding of the election program started in earnest on Thursday with the filling of candidacies under FPTP.
The 33-party alliance led by the CPN-Maoist staged protests against the election program at the headquarters of various district, Thursday.
According to EC officials, the offices of returning officers across the country registered candidacies under the FPTP system from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Some of the party leaders, who have decided to contest from two election constituencies, were present in person at the offices of the returning officers to file their candidacies, while some others sent authorized representatives for the purpose.
As per the EC calendar of events for the FPTP system, the commission will publish the list of nominated candidates on Friday.
One can file complaints on Saturday against candidates nominated under FPTP and the EC will take decisions about such complaints on Sunday.
Similarly, the commission will publish the list of candidates on October 7 and those wishing to withdraw their candidacies can do so on October 8.
Likewise, the EC will publish a final list of candidates on October 9 and will allocate the election symbols to them on October 10.
Parties to submit closed list of candidates under PR system today
Political parties which have filed applications to contest under the proportional electoral system are scheduled to submit closed lists of their candidates at the EC central office on Friday.
EC Spokesperson Rai said the commission on Thursday published the final list of political parties that have filed applications to participate under the proportional electoral system.
Altogether 124 political parties had filed applications on Monday to contest under proportional system.
The chief election commissioner said they will start printing the ballot papers for the proportional system from Saturday. The EC will print 15 million ballot papers for the proportional electoral system.
Related story
57 political parties file nominations under FPTP for HoR electi...
