KATHMANDU, Jan 24: A total of 3,487 candidates have filed nominations across 165 constituencies for the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) election scheduled for March 5. However, the race has begun to thin out, with 72 candidates withdrawing their nominations and eight others being disqualified as of Friday, according to the Election Commission (EC).
Assistant Spokesperson of the EC, Kul Bahadur GC, said most independent candidates withdrew after realizing they could not manage election expenses or found the election process too demanding. Party-nominated candidates, on the other hand, were largely pushed out by internal party disputes and pressure. Officially, the reasons cited for withdrawal include personal reasons, special circumstances, and lack of interest.
Candidates filing nominations on Sunday and Monday for local po...
The EC also disqualified eight candidates after allegations leveled against them at different times were substantiated during document verification. “After further scrutiny of the documents submitted to the Commission, the allegations were found to be valid,” GC said. “Based on strong grounds, the Commission decided to disqualify eight candidates.”
Those disqualified include Binod Pariyar, 39, of the Ujyalo Nepal Party from Morang Constituency-4; Muhammad Jabir, 45, of the Janata Samajbadi Party from Morang-6; Abin Meyangbo, 26, of the Jai Matribhumi Party from Kathmandu-3; and Amar Tamang, 35, an independent candidate from the same constituency.
Similarly, the EC disqualified Sumitra Basnet, 49, of Miteri Party Nepal from Kathmandu-10; Kamala Devi Gurung, 45, of the Sarwabhaum Nagarik Party from Rupandehi-2; Rameshwar Chaudhary, 47, of the Aam Janata Party (single election symbol) from Bardiya-2; and Maya Kumari Thapa, 49, of the same party from Bardaghat Susta West-1.
According to the EC, independent candidates dominate the list of withdrawals. “Out of the 72 candidates who withdrew, 33 were independent candidates,” GC said.
