KATHMANDU, Oct 31: A total of 18 new political parties have applied for registration at the Election Commission (EC) to contest the March 5 election of the House of Representatives (HoR).
Of these, eight parties seeking registration represent the Gen Z protesters who led the September 8 and 9 demonstrations that resulted in the fall of the K P Oli-led government.
With the new applications, the number of parties registered with the EC has reached 124. EC officials said they are currently reviewing documents submitted by the newly registered parties for formal approval.
23 parties bow out from March 5 HoR polls
With the HoR election fast approaching, voter registration has also surged across the country, with around 85,107 new voters registered as of Friday. The EC stated that an average of 5,000 to 6,000 new voters are registering daily.
Earlier, the EC had set up registration centres nationwide to allow eligible voters to register. Voter registration will continue until the November 16 deadline.
Of the new registrants, seven have identified themselves as belonging to the ‘other’ gender category.
Meanwhile, the EC has invited applications from national and international organizations interested in observing the election. Organizations based in the Kathmandu Valley can apply directly to the EC’s central office, while those outside the Valley may apply through provincial or district election offices.
The EC has indicated that the official election program will begin after November 16.
