NA by-polls today: Voting to kick-off at 9 AM following 21-points COVID-19 safety protocol

KATHMANDU, Jan 26: The election for 19 vacant posts in the National Assembly is all set to kick off on Wednesday morning. 

Voting will be held in eight voting centers and 14 polling booths placed in different provinces across the country from 9.00 AM to 3 PM on Wednesday. 

The commission has set up 14 polling booths in eight polling centers, of which two are designated in Province 1 --- Provincial Election Office, Biratnagar and  Regional Plant Protection Laboratory, Biratnagar. 

Similarly, a booth has been set up at Mahendra Narayan Nidhi building for Madhes Province and hall of Industrial Area Management Limited for Bagmati Province and Provincial Election Office, Pokhara for Gandaki Province. 

Similarly, a booth has been set up in Ghorahi, Dang for Lumbini, Surkhet in Karnali and Dhangadi for Sudur Paschim provinces.

The poll body has also prepared a 21-points COVID-19 safety protocol to be followed in order to curb the further spread of the disease during the election. These measures will be strictly followed during the polls, said EC spokesperson Shaligram Poudel.

The province assembly members, mayors/chairpersons and deputy mayors/deputy chairpersons of the local level are eligible to vote in the NA election. 

The tenure of eight NA members from CPN-UML, four from CPN (Unified Socialist), four from CPN (Maoist Centre) and three from Nepali Congress is expiring on March 4. 

There is a provision that the election should be held before 35 days of the expiry of the tenure. The candidates from Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist), Rastriya Janamorcha, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party Nepal, Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party, Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal and Rastriya Prajatantra Party are contesting in the election. 

A total of 2,025 voters are casting their ballot in the NA election.

The poll will elect seven from the women category, three from the Dalit category, two from the people with disability or minority category and seven from other category.

“There will be an all-party meeting after concluding the election at 3 PM and the vote count will begin,” said Spokesperson Sharma.