The main opposition CPN-UML on Sunday picked its candidates for the National Assembly elections. The party will contest for all vacant 19 seats to be fulfilled through elections.

According to Shankar Pokharel, the party’s general secretary, the party finalised the names of Rukmini Koirala and Parshuram Adhikari for Koshi Province and Usha Devi Tharuni and Arjun Kumar Singh Rajput for Madhesh.

Likewise, the party will field Roch Kumar Chaulagain, Trilochan Nirmal Paudel, Vivek Devkota and Dhruva Raj BK in Bagmati Province.

Samjhana Devkota, Chakra Bahadur Parajuli and Hemedra Sherchan will contest the polls from Gandaki while Tulasa Kumar KC and Jhapendra Bahadur Gharti Chhetri will vie from Lumbini.

The party also finalised the names of Bimala Kumari Shahi, Dilli Prasad Bhatta and Hikmat BK for Karnali and Sabitra Devi Ghimire, Ishwari Prasad Kharel and Ram Chandra Joshi for Sudurpaschim Province.

Earlier today, the ruling CPN (Maoist Centre) finalised its candidates for the elections slated for January 25.

The term of 20 lawmakers in the 59-strong upper house expires on March 3. While 19 seats will be filled through elections, one member will be nominated by the President at the Cabinet’s recommendation.