KATHMANDU, June 28: Voting is taking place under the second phase local level election in Province Nos. 1, 5 and 7 in a peaceful and enthusiastic manner.

The Election Commission stated that polling centers opened at 7 am today for voting in the election taking place for 334 local levels in 35 districts of the three provinces and voting was going on in a peaceful and enthusiastic manner. However, voting was delayed in some of the 8,364 polling centers due to rain.

A press release issued by Election Commission spokesperson Surya Prasad Sharma states that although rainfall was reported at some places of the eastern hills, voters are in queue enthusiastically waiting for their turn to cast votes.
The Election Commission has thanked the political parties, the local civil society and all who helped better manage the voting center at the local level by managing tarpauline sheets and other materials.

113-year-old grandma votes
One hundred and thirteen years old Pashupati Saud cast her ballot at 7 am today at the Bhumiraj Lower Secondary School polling centre at Suranaya Rural Municipality in Baitadi district.

Similarly, 105-year-old Kalashi Bhatta of Shaileshikhar Municipality cast her vote at local Bhumiraj Lower Secondary School, Tauki polling center at 7 am.

Fifteen thousand 38 people’s representatives would be elected in the one metropolitan city, seven sub-metropolitan cities, 111 municipalities and 215 rural municipalities in the second phase local election. Of them, 41 people’s representatives have already been elected unopposed. RSS

ROLPA, June 28: House Speaker Onsari Gharti today cast her vote under the second phase of the local level elections here.

Gharti cast her vote at voting center set up at the Baludaya Secondary School in Rolpa Municipality – 7.

In a brief statement to the journalists, the Speaker said she cast her vote for institutional development of the federal democratic republic.

Also Speaker Gharti’s husband and CPN (Maoist Center) leader and former minister Barsaman Pun also cast vote in the same voting center.

KATHMANDU, June 28: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara today cast his vote at Rolpa Municipality – 1.

Minister Mahara cast the first vote at the Bibamaruk voting center this morning, Personal Secretary Rahul Mahara shared. There are a total of 705 voters in the centre.

The second phase of the local polls is currently underway in Province nos 1,5 and 7. A total of 62,408 candidates are contesting the elections. RSS

Kathmandu, June 28: The second phase of the local level elections is being held in Province nos 1, 5 and 7 today with 62,408 candidates in the fray.

CHITWAN, June 21: Home Minister Janardan Sharma has assured of strengthened security arrangements for the upcoming second-round of local level elections scheduled for June 28.

In his address to a press meet organized by the Press Center, Chitwan today, the Minister said the government had mobilized all available resources and used its full strength to hold the election peacefully.

On a different note, the Home Minister said the decision to hold the local level elections in three phases was taken with the consent of the dissenting political parties and this had helped build poll-friendly atmosphere.

Praising the enthusiasm of a mass of people and many parties including those against the polls to participate in the polls, he said the move of the Communist Party of Nepal led by Netra Bikram Chand, which was against the election, to file candidacy nominations from some parts was welcoming.

In his response to a query about the reason behind the government decision to ‘compensate’ the guilty in the Tikapur violence, the Home Minister said the matters of punishing the guilty and compensating for the damages should be dealt separately as they were different in nature and the government believed in the principle of justice to all.

“The government does or would never tend to discourage the morale of police administration,” he said, adding that entire mechanisms would be mobilized to enforce the constitution and government policies and program. “The police administration is one of the important mechanisms and the government never tends to discourage it, rather always promotes it.”

Prior to this, addressing the convocation ceremony of basic training for the 173 batch of Assistant Sub Inspector of Police operated by the Junior Police Officer College, Bharatpur, the Minister said the State never wanted to see politicization, factionalism and division in police mechanism and would not hesitate to go for action if such situation arrived. He directed those who passed out the training to prove themselves competent by remaining within in the ‘chain of command’.

Inspector General of Police Prakash Aryal sought the dedication of the new ASIs to the profession, directing them to work keeping the interests of the country and people in the center.

Likewise, officiating Deputy Inspector General of Police Debendra Subedi informed the program about the launching of National Police Academy e-library at the college which was inaugurated by Home Minister Sharma earlier today.

Also, Deputy Inspector General of Police Rana Bahadur Chand presented a report on training at the event. A total of 150 ASIs passed out the training. RSS

DANG, June 21: The local administration here has imposed a ban on sale and distribution of liquor products effective from June 22 in view of the forthcoming second round of local level elections.

A meeting of the District Security Mechanism held under the coordination of Dang’s Chief District Officer (CDO), Meghnath Kafle, took the decision to ban liquor on Tuesday.

According to Superintendent of Police (SP), Dhiraj Pratap Singh, the sale and distribution of liquor will be banned in public places including hotels and restaurants.

Meanwhile, an all – party meeting has decided to form a committee headed by Chief Election Official, Churaman Khadka, with political party representatives as members to resolve any problems seen among the parties during the electioneering. The meeting has appealed to the political parties to strictly comply with the election code. RSS

KATHMANDU, May 31: The Election Commission has unveiled its schedule for the second phase local level election scheduled to take place on June 28.

According to the EC, the parties and independent candidates will have to file their candidacy on June 16. The complete list of candidate will be published on June 16.

Office of the returning officers in the respective local units have already been set up.

KATHMANDU, May 18: The Nepali Congress is to finalize the name of its candidates for the second round of local-level election within May 26. The second round of local-level election is taking place on June 31.

A meeting of the top leaders of the Nepali Congress held at the party headquarters today took the decision in this regard for the candidates to prepare for the election by formulating the party’s strategy for the second-round of election, said Chief Secretary of the Party Office, Krishna Prasad Poudel.

The meeting decided to take initiative to create environment for the participation of all in the election. The NC has started consulting with other parties to bring the Madhes-based parties on board the election by approving the constitution amendment proposal which is under consideration in the Legislature-Parliament.

The meeting also discussed regarding making extensive preparation in further effective manner for the second round of election as well as reviewed the result of the first-round of local-level election, said NC General Secretary, Dr Shashanka Koirala.

Saying discussion was also held on formation of NC-led government, he expected that a new government would be formed under the leadership of NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba as per the agreement reached between NC and CPN (Maoist Centre) at the time of the formation of the present government.

The Party also directed all its mechanisms, sister organisations and well wisher organisations to carry out preparation in order to get the best result in the coming election, drawing a conclusion that the result so far party is getting was not as expected. RSS