Political parties filed nominations for the last phase of local elections in eight districts of province 2 on Wednesday.

People of the province will vote to elect 6,627 representatives in 136 local units—one metropolitan city, three sub-metropolitan cities, 73 municipalities and 59 rural municipalities.

Major parties contesting the elections have already finalised their candidates for the election. A large number of security personnel were deployed to prevent any untoward incidents in the province.

The Election Commission registered nominations from 10 am to 5pm today. 

The Election Commission (EC) said on Tuesday that nominations can be filed between 10 and 5pm. Complaints against the candidates can be filed on Thursday and the same day the EC will verify the list. The EC will publish the final list of candidates and distribute electoral symbols on Saturday.

Local elections in Provinces 3, 4 and 6 were held on May 14 and Provinces 1, 5 and 7 on June 28.

Though the government had earlier planned to hold local elections, first in 20 years, at one go across the country on May 14, they had to be staggered over three phases, particularly in view of the agitating Madhes-based parties’ concerns.

Martyr family member applies for independent candidacy

A martyr family member has applied for Ward Chairperson post of Hanumannagar Kankalini Municipality of Saptari district. Dharma Pal Raut, brother of martyr Ram Krishna Raut, has filed his candidacy for the upcoming election. Ram Krishna died of bullets fired by police at Bhardaha in Saptari disrict two years ago.

2 UML candidates vie for mayoral post in Rautahat

Dispute has arose while filing candidacy for mayoral post of Chandrapur Municipality in Rautahat after two candidates of CPN-UML claimed to be the official candidate of the party.

Uddhav Prasad Regmi and Babural Dahal both came to register their candidacy with official recommendation letter from the party at Election Office in Chandrapur. Both claim to the official candidate nominated by the party and said they had no information about the other receiving the letter from the party.

Election Office Chandrapur Chief Kamal Raj Bhandari said Election Commission will resolve the dispute. "We will delay the candidacy registration process for a while until EC resolves it," said Bhandari.