KATHMANDU, Dec 16: The Election Commission (EC) has said that 12 political parties have applied for party registration for the National Assembly elections to be held on January 25, 2024. Assistant Spokesperson for EC Surya Prasad Aryal informed Republica that 12 parties have applied for the National Assembly elections.
Until Friday, the last day of party registration called by the EC for the National Assembly elections, 12 political parties represented in the parliament except the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) have applied.
According to Assistant Spokesperson Aryal, CPN-UML, Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist), Nepal Samajwadi Party, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party (LSP), Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP), Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP), Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RSSP), Janamat Party, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) and Rastriya Janamorcha have submitted application to the EC for participating in the National Assembly elections.
"Twelve political parties have applied for party registration by Friday, the date set by the EC for the National Assembly elections to be held on January 25," he said. "The EC had invited party registrations for the National Assembly elections from December 10 to December 15. So far, NCP-UML, Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist), Nepal Samajwadi Party, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party (LSP), Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP), Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP), Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RSSP), Janamat Party, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) and Rastriya Janamorcha have registered.”
Five parties register names for National Assembly elections
Out of the 20 posts in the National Assembly that will be vacant from March 3, elections are being held on January 25 for 19 posts. According to the legal provision that the election should be held 35 days before the vacancy, the EC is going to hold the election on January 25.
The EC will register the candidacy for the upcoming National Assembly elections on January 8, 2024. Complaints against the candidates can be filed on January 9. Voting will be held on January 25. The final list will be published on January 11, candidates can withdraw their names on January 12, from 10AM to 1AM on January 13. The schedule for awarding election symbols to the candidates has already been announced.
Regarding the distribution of the 19 elected seats, discussions among the ruling parties suggest that the Nepali Congress is vying for 9 seats, the Maoist Center for 6 seats, the CPN (Unified Socialists) for three seats, and JSP for one seat. Additionally, the Nepali Congress has requested the seat of one MP nominated by the President.
The notice issued by the EC reads, “Parties registering for the National Assembly Member Election must adhere to the regulations outlined in Article 269 of the Constitution of Nepal and Section 4 of the Political Parties Act, 2073 BS. The deadline for submitting applications to the EC during office hours is from December 10 to December 15, as per Schedule-12 of the Regulations on Political Parties, 2074 BS.”
The EC has also determined that voters for the National Assembly members' election will include members of the Provincial Assembly as well as the heads and deputy heads/chairman and vice-chairman of the local level.
The EC has established a quota of 53 votes for Provincial Assembly members, 19 votes for the Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons of municipalities, and 19 votes for the Mayors and Deputy Mayors of metropolitan cities.
The term of office of 20 MPs in the National Assembly including 9 from the CPN-UML (including Chairman Ganesh Timilsina), 4 from the Nepali Congress, 3 from the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Center), 2 from the CPN (Unified Socialist) Party, 1 from Janata Samajwadi, and 1 Independent candidate, is expiring on March 3.
