While Maoists and CPN-UML had already begun homework to select candidates for the poll, NC held a day-long meeting of the newly-formed parliamentary board mandated to pick poll candidates on Tuesday. [break]
The NC could give full shape to the board only on Monday after President Sushil Koirala and Senior Leader Sher Bahadur Deuba reached an agreement over the number of members to be represented in the crucial body.
NC Central Office has already received nominations of minimum three candidates under FPTP and five candidates under proportional electoral system from each constituency in all 75 district units. "We are working to settle the nominations of candidates received from various districts. It will take a few more days," said a member of the parliamentary board. Among other things, the board has decided to give priority to candidates who have higher chances of winning in the elections, youth leaders and new faces.
As per the adjustment made by the Election Commission in the calendar of events on Thursday, political parties should file candidacy for proportional electoral system on September 30 and under First Past the Post (FPTP) electoral system on October 3.
Likewise, UCPN (Maoist) is currently busy in preparing the list of poll candidates. "We will finalize the preliminary list of poll candidates by Thursday," said selection committee member Devendra Poudel. Maoist Headquarters has received nominations of over 3,000 candidates from across the country.
Likewise, CPN-UML held its Standing Committee meeting to take necessary decision to pick poll candidates from among nominations received from across the country.
Party leaders said they have received nominations of some 750 aspirants under the FPTP and about 4,000 potential candidates for proportional electoral system.
Each party can appoint a total of 575 poll candidates, which includes 240 candidates under FPTP and 335 under proportional electoral system.
UML had asked regional and district committees to nominate three candidates, including one woman from each 240 constituencies under the FPTP and 5 from each constituency under proportional electoral system. Earlier, the party had held separate meeting with its zonal coordinators to settle the nomination of poll candidates.
UML leaders said they have reached an understanding to give tickets to the candidates who stood nearest rival in the previous election if the candidates are still actively working in the party organizations. Of the total 240 constituencies, UML candidates had stood as nearest rival in 83 constituencies during the previous election.
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