KATHMANDU, July 20: The Election Commission (EC) has set September 6 as candidacy nominations day for the third round of the local elections to be held in Province 2.  The election body is conducting the third round of local elections in eight districts of Province 2 on September 18. 

A board meeting of the election body on Thursday finalized a detailed work calendar for the third round of elections being conducted in 127 local units of the eight districts. According to a calendar approved by the EC board, the election offices will publicize the details of candidates on September 6 itself while general public or parties can register complaint against candidates on September 7 if they have any. 

The district election offices will publicize the details of candidates on September 8. Local election officers will also allow candidates to withdraw their candidacies if the latter so wish.
 
According to the election calendar local election offices will publicize final list of the candidates and election symbols will also be provided on the same day. Those candidates contesting from the parties represented in parliament will get common symbol while parties not representing in parliament and independent candidates will have to contest with independent election symbols. 

After completing the entire election process, voters will be allowed to cast votes on September 18. Voting will begin at 7 am and will last until 5 pm. 

The election body has already conducted elections in provinces 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 in two phases. Polls in Province 2, which includes 127 local units out of 744, was halted after the Madhes-based parties warned of protests if the election was held without addressing their demand--revision of provincial boundaries before the polls and increment in the number of local units in southern regions based on population. 

Demands raised by the Madhes-based parties, however, have not been addressed yet. The constitution amendment bill registered in parliament with the aim to address the concerns of the disgruntled Madhesi-based parties is yet to be put to a vote as the ruling parties lack required two-thirds support for the bill. 

 
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