Local election: No candidacy in 149 Dalit woman members; 20,000 observers to observe local poll

Kathmandu / May 2: No candidacy was filed for the post of 149 Dalit women members for the local level elections slated for May 13.

As the Election Commission said, there shall be candidacies of a total of 6,743 Dalit women members as per the provision in the local level elections, but the candidacies for 149 seats have remained vacant.

20,000 observers of 68 organisations to observe local poll

A total of 68 organisations have been permitted to mobilise 20 thousand observers for the local level election slated for May 13, according to the Election Commission (EC), Nepal.

Kamal Bhattarai, assistant secretary at the foreign section of the EC, informed that the organisations seeking to observe the local poll have submitted details about the number of observers. “They have submitted the details of about 20 thousand observers to date and, as we are still receiving the details, the number of total observers may increase.”

He said the exact number of observers will be confirmed after the distribution of the identity card for them.

Kafle said that the Nepal Observation Committee has completed all its preparation with regard to election observation for ensuring a fair, free and impartial conduction of the poll.

The Committee has appointed and mobilised 40 observers for every district in 40 districts for the long term while it will mobilise 400 observers for the short term in all 77 districts.

The code of conduct for the observation of the local level election has already been enforced.