KATHMANDU, September 8: Altogether 36,073 candidates are contesting for 6,627 local body positions ranging from members of ward committees to chiefs of 136 local units in Province 2.
According to the details compiled by the Election Commission, 36,073 individuals have registered their candidacies from various political parties and as independents for the third phase of the local elections scheduled for September 18. The third phase of the elections are taking places in 136 local units of eight districts in the tarai, which is considered as stronghold of Rastriya Janata Party Nepal.
Rs 1.44m expenditure ceiling for MP candidates
The election will elect chiefs of local units and members of ward committee. The constitution has ensured representation of nearly 40 percent women, Dalits, and members of other marginalized communities. The law has ensured election of at least one woman member and one Dalit woman per ward committee. Apart from this, the parties mandatorily field a woman as either chief or deputy chief in every local unit.
EC spokesperson Nawaraj Dhakal informed that 10,783 individuals have filed candidacies for chiefs of local units while 1130 have filed candidacies for deputy chiefs. Likewise, altogether 8,018 inidividuals are vying for ward chief posts. Similarly, 13077 individuals are contesting for two ward members (open category) while 6360 are contesting for women ward members and 5,705 for Dalit woman category.
After successful first and second rounds of elections in six provinces, the EC is conducting final round of elections in Province 2. There is one metropolitan city, three sub-metropolitan cities, 73 municipalities and 59 rural municipalities are in the province.
