By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Jan. 26: The Election Commission is holding elections to the 19 vacant seats of the National Assembly members on Wednesday.
Election Commission Spokesperson Saligram Poudel said that the EC has made all preparations to conduct the National Assembly elections in all seven provinces.

The entire management of peace and security, health protocol and election centre has been completed, he told The Rising Nepal.
According to Poudel, voting will be held from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

“Once the voting process completes, an all-party meeting will be held after following certain procedures. The election result is expected to come out late Wednesday night,” he said.
He said there are 14 polling centres across the country, including two in each province. Separate polling centres have been set up for the Provincial Assembly members and local level chiefs and deputy chiefs. There are 2,025 voters for the elections, he added.

The Election Commission has stated that considering the pandemic, safety health protocols would be strictly maintained during the election.
The EC has already issued 21-point health safety protocols asking those who participate in the NA election to follow the protocols. The NA election is being held as the term of 19 NA members is expiring on March 4.

According to the constitutional provision, election to the NA members should be held before 35 days of the expiry of their term. One third members of the 59-member Upper Chamber are elected every two years. Altogether, 43 candidates of nine political parties are in the fray.

According to EC, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Maoist Centre, CPN (Unified Socialist), Rastriya Janamorcha, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party Nepal, Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party, Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal and Rastriya Prajatantra Party are contesting the elections.
Of the 19 members, two each will be elected from Bagamati and Madhes Province and three each from five other provinces.

Total 19 candidates from the main opposition CPN-UML and 19 from the ruling coalition, including six candidates of Nepali Congress, five each of CPN (Maoist Centre) and (Unified Socialist), two from the Janata Samajwadi Party and one of Rastriya Janamorcha Party are competing in the 19 seats of NA.

Meanwhile, Bibeksheel Sajha Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party said they would not participate in the NA election to be held in Bagmati Pradesh
Both parties have decided not to participate in the NA poll in Bagmati Province, according to our Hetauda correspondent Ram Mani Dahal.

A parliamentary party meeting of Bagmati Provincial Assembly of Bibeksheel decided not to participate in the election, said parliamentary party leader Ramesh Poudel.
Similarly, RPP provincial assembly member Rita Majhi also informed that her party would not participate in the National Assembly election.