705 candidates including former PM Bhattarai in fray for 1st phase of Nepal polls
According to the Election Commission of Nepal, total 702 candidates are in fray for the first phase of parliamentary and provincial elections scheduled on 26 November. 100 candidates withdrew their names today. One candidate's nomination has been cancelled.
Former Prime Minister and Naya Shakti Party Nepal, Coordinator, Baburam Bhattarai and fomer Deputy PM and Senior leader of CPN (Maoist Centre) Narayan Kaji Shrestha are among prominent candidates in the first phase. They are contesting against each other from Gorkha 2 parliamentary constituency.
Spokesperson for the Election Commission Navaraj Dhakal, however, said the number of candidates could change, as the EC was collecting data from districts.
Several rebel candidates of major political parties the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML and the CPN-Maoist Centre withdrew their candidacies following stern warning from their respective parties.
Election Commission has also allotted election symbols to all 702 candidates. Nominations in remaining 45 districts for second and final round will be filed on November 2 and voting will take place on December 7.
As per the new constitution of Nepal local, province and parliament elections need to be completed by January 21 next year. Local elections have been successfully completed last month.