Himal Press 
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KATHMANDU: A total of 111 candidates vying for 32 seats in Sudurpashchim Province Assembly have lost their election deposits.
As per the existing provision, the election office will have to forfeit deposits of candidates failing to get 10% of total valid votes.
Candidates of Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist), Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Nagarik Unmukti Party, Janata Samajbadi Party and Nepal Worker and Peasants Party contested in the province assembly elections. Likewise, there were also some independent candidates.
Altogether 193 candidates contested in different constituencies of the province assembly, according to the Election Commission. Of them, only 82 received at least 10% of the valid votes in their respective constituencies.
Candidates were required to furnish a deposit of Rs 5,000 each. Women candidates as well as those from Dalit and marginalized communities were given a 50% waiver in deposits.
In Dadeldhura (B) constituency, UML’s candidate Gajendra Bahadur Shahi lost his deposit. Shahi got only 1,035 of the 24,528 valid votes.
Not only the candidates of fringe parties, but candidates fielded by big parties like UML and Maoist Center have also lost their deposits. In Dadeldhura (B) constituency, for example, UML’s candidate Gajendra Bahadur Shahi lost his deposit. Shahi could get only 1,035 of the 24,528 valid votes.
Of the 32 first past the post (FPTP) seats in Sudurpashchim Province, Nepali Congress won 12, while candidates of Maoist Center was victorious in eight seats. Nagarik Unmukti won five seats, while candidates of UML and Unified Socialist were victorious in three seats each. Similarly, independent candidate was victorious in one seat.
