731 candidates in fray for 33 seats in Bagmati Province

By Anil Parajuli, Hetauda, Feb. 28: A total of 731 candidates are vying for 33 seats under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system in Bagmati Province in the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5.

According to the Province Election Office, candidates from all 13 districts of Bagmati have filed their nominations for the direct electoral system.

Kathmandu, which has the highest number of constituencies in the province (10), has 250 candidates in the race. 

In contrast, Rasuwa, which has only one constituency, has the lowest number of candidates at 12.

Among other districts, Lalitpur (three constituencies) has 71 candidates, while Chitwan (three constituencies) has 64 candidates under the FPTP system. 

Bhaktapur (two constituencies) has 57 candidates, Kavrepalanchok has 42, Sindhuli has 28, Sindhupalchok has 36, Dhading has 47, Nuwakot has 30 and Makwanpur has 44 contenders. 

In single-constituency districts, Dolakha has 33 candidates and Ramechhap has 17.

Of the total 731 candidates, 623 are men and 108 are women, the Provincial Election office informed. 

According to the data provided by the office, Kathmandu has the highest number of female candidates at 46. 

Likewise, Nuwakot, Rasuwa and Ramechhap have the lowest representation of women, with one female candidate each.

Chitwan has 18 female candidates, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur have nine each, Makwanpur has seven, Dolakha and Dhading have four each, Kavrepalanchok and Sindhupalchok have three each and Sindhuli has two female candidates contesting the upcoming HoR election, the office informed. 

Province Election Officer Hari Prasad Dhakal said that almost all necessary preparations for conducting the election have reached the final stage.

“Voter lists, including the temporary voter roll, determination of polling stations, candidate registration, election campaigning, management of election materials and human resources, voter education programmes, monitoring of the election code of conduct, inspection of polling stations, and coordination with local representatives have been completed,” he said.

The province comprises 119 local levels and 1,121 wards. There are 3,682,310 registered voters in Bagmati Province, including 1,852,378 men, 1,829,905 women and 27 others. 

The province has 1,815 polling stations and 4,341 polling centres, the office informed.