Nepal witnesses 73 percent voter turnout in 3rd phase of local polls

Kathmandu [Nepal], Sept. 19 (ANI): The final phase of local polls held in Nepal's Province no. 2 witnessed a voter turnout of 73 percent.

The Election Commission of Nepal informed that 73 percent voters of about 2.6 million eligible voters exercised their franchise in Monday's election.

Nepal has the constitutional obligation of holding the elections of Local Levels, Province and the National Assembly by first weeks of next year.

As per the time limitation, Nepal is progressing forward with the elections and the country is scheduled to hold the e7lection for the Province Council and National Assembly simultaneously in two phases in November and December.

Province no. 2 which has remained volatile since long period, on Monday voted peacefully in comparison to other provinces with no violence reported.

However, the Election Commission acknowledged nabbing of people who tried to vote with fake identity.

"There were some attempts to vote from other name but the active initiation of the Election Commissioner and Security bodies foiled the attempts and caught all the intruders who are set to get the punishment.

A total of 38 people who tried to vote with others name and 10 who violated the laws were nabbed by the police in the election of province no. 2's," said a statement from Chief Election Commissioner Dr. Ayodhi Prasad Yadav.

With the completion of the polling the task of collecting the ballot boxes from all around the polling stations is underway, the election commission said.

It also has acknowledged that the counting of votes in some area has started and some will start after garnering consensus amongst the political parties.

The southern plains of Nepal which has eligible voters of about 2.6 millions has 136 local levels.

The highly contested and volatile province no. 2 of Nepal has one Metropolitan City, three Sub- Metropolitan City, 73 Municipality and 59 Rural Municipality.

In the final phase of local polls, a total of 45 parties with 37236 candidates are in election fray out of whom 6627 will make their way to the post.

The final phase of local election will also signalize the popularity and prediction for a party to be the leading one in the upcoming elections to lead over the government and to exert a complete control over the provincial and the national assembly.

After the successful commencement of the local polls, Nepal is scheduled to hold the election of Province and House of representative in two phases in November and December.

The first phase of local polls was held on May 14 followed by second on June 28 this year.

The first and second phase election witnessed an turnover of 73 and 74 percent covering 615 local levels. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI