With the withdrawal of candidacies under the FPTP electoral system on Tuesday, the total number of the candidates now stands 6,158.
However, EC spokesperson Bir Bahadur Rai said the total number of those withdrawing candidacies under the FPTP electoral system could increase slightly as the EC is yet to receive final data in this regard. [break]
According to Rai, 86 candidates withdrew their candidacies in the Central Development Region, 30 in Eastern Development Region, 20 in Western Development Region, 33 in Mid-western Development Region and 16 candidates in the Far-western Development Region.
The EC had asked FPTP candidates wishing to withdraw to do so on Tuesday.
Election commissioner Ila Sharma said the commission will publish the final lists of FPTP candidates on Wednesday while the EC is scheduled to allocate election symbols to all FPTP candidates on Thursday.
The EC on Monday had published the lists of candidates under the FPTP electoral system at the offices of all 240 returning officers across the country.
Altogether 6,343 FPTP candidates, excluding 11 disqualified, on Thursday had filed their candidacies for the upcoming Constituent Assembly (CA) election scheduled for November 19. Out of 6,343 candidates, 672 were women and one is third gender.
Similarly, 1,219 independent candidates had filed their candidacies and out of them 69 are women.
Altogether 2,782 candidates had filed their candidacies in the Central Development Region, 1,527 in the Eastern Development Region, 1,057 in Western Development Region, 589 in Mid-western Development Region and 388 candidates in the Far-western Development Region.
Four political parties-- Sanghiya Bikaswadi Party, Nepal Ganatantrik Ekata Party, Naya Sanghiyata Janadharana Party and Nepal Janahit Party-- have not filed candidacies under FPTP electoral system.
EC prohibits parties, candidates to organize receptions, feasts
The commission has decided to prohibit political parties, their sister organizations, candidates and leaders from organizing reception parties or feasts on the occasion of Dashain, Tihar and Chhath, among other festivals.
"Though they [parties and candidates] will organize feasts under the pretext of celebrating upcoming festivals, it will eventually influence the upcoming CA election," An EC official told Republica requesting anonymity.
The commission has also decided to ban use of caps, bags and t-shirts, among other items with the election symbols and party flags during the election campaign, saying this is against the election code of conduct.
The commission on Tuesday took the decision at a time when political parties and their sister organizations have been using t-shirts and bags, among other items with symbols of political parties´ flags or election symbols.
The election code of conduct, which is applicable to candidates, political parties, their cadres, the government and its various bodies, non-government organizations (NGOs) and media organizations, came into force from July 22.
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