KATHMANDU, Jan 10: Ten political parties have applied at the Election Commission to contest the upcoming upper house elections scheduled for February 7. 

According to EC Spokesperson Navaraj Dhakal, 10 political parties have applied at the election body so far. “A total of 20 parties have won seats of local and provincial assemblies,” said spokesman Dhakal adding, “Independent individuals also can file candidacies.” 

Parties have been asked to register their candidacies for upper house by Friday. Elections of upper house will be held in all seven provinces.

With the government dillydallying to announce the provincial capitals, the EC is in a fix over determining polling locations for upper house elections. Fearing nationwide protests if provincial capitals are fixed ahead of the upper house elections, the government has not yet fixed provincial capitals.

“We will fix accessible places as polling locations even if the government fails to announce provincial capitals,” spokesman Dhakal said. 

Confused over the polling location and other logistical preparations, the election body has not yet unveiled the election program. Out of the total 59 members of the upper house, the elections will elect 56 members while the government itself will nominate the remaining three members. 

Chiefs and deputy chiefs of 753 local units and members of the provincial assembly will elect the upper house through single transferable voting systems. So far, the election body has not officially announced the winners under the proportional representation (PR) category. Also, members of the provincial assembly elected under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system have not taken the oath of office and secrecy till date in the absence of governors. 

 
• parties
 
• register
 
• upper
 
• house
 
• polls