National Assembly Election: Voting underway in seven provinces

KATHMANDU: Voting has begun at seven provincial headquarters to elect 19 members to the National Assembly.

Twenty seats in the upper house, including one to be nominated by the President on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, are becoming vacant on March 4.

According to the Election Commission, voting is being held for two seats each in Koshi, Madhesh, and Lumbini, four in Bagmati, and three seats each in Gandaki, Karnali, and Sudurpashchim provinces.

The ruling coalition at the center has fielded common candidates in the 19 seats. As per the understanding reached with coalition partners, NC has fielded candidates in 10 seats, Maoist Center in six seats, CPN (Unified Socialist) in two seats, and Janata Samajbadi Party in one seat.

The main opposition CPN-UML and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) have formed a coalition in Koshi Province. UML is contesting alone in other provinces.

The National Assembly members are elected by an electoral college comprising chiefs and deputy chiefs of local units and provincial assembly members of all seven provinces. A total of 549 provincial assembly members and 1,498 officials of local units are participating in the voting. While provincial assembly members carry a vote weight of 53, officials of local units have a vote weight of 19.

According to the Election Commission, voting will continue until 3 pm, and results will be published by Thursday evening.