Candidates of the CPN-UML, the Nepali Congress and the Nagarik Unmukti Party have registered their nominations for the National Assembly by-election slated for February 8.

Kumar Dasaudi of the UML, Madhav Prasad Acharya of the Congress and Rajendrabir Raya of the Nagarik Unmukti filed their candidacies for the by-election for one seat of the upper house.

Nagarik Unmukti Party Chairman Ranjita Shrestha said the party fielded a separate candidate, claiming the party is not a part of the ruling alliance although it had extended its support to the incumbent government.

The election is being held for a seat that is vacant after National Assembly member Khim Lal Bhattarai tendered his resignation on October 9 last year, the date on which nominations were filed for the federal polls.

The National Assembly members are elected by an electoral college.

Each of the seven provinces elects eight members. The electoral college is made up of members of the provincial assembly and chairperson/mayor and vice-chairperson/deputy mayor of local units within the province.

Each provincial assembly member's vote has a weight of 48 whereas each chairperson/mayor/vice-chairperson/deputy mayor's vote carries a weight of 18.