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Dalit community has witnessed a meager number of candidates in the House of Representatives (HoR) elections scheduled for March 5. 

Nepali Congress (NC) has fielded its assistant general secretary Prakash Rasaili Snehi as a candidate of Dalit community from Bajhang. 

CPN-UML has presented Chakra Snehi from Dadeldhura and Bimala Biki from Bardiya-2.

Likewise, Nepali Communist Party has given tickets only to Padam Biswokarma from Syangja-2 and Man Bahadur Sunar from Kanchanpur-3. 

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has nominated Khagendra Sunar from Banke-3. 

Padam Sundas, a leader of the Dalit movement and former ambassador, has noted that the major political parties have always treated the Dalit community as a vote bank but have consistently deprived them of political opportunities. 

He commented, “The contribution of Dalit leaders within the party is equal to that of other communities, but they do not get tickets during elections. Discrimination is being practiced while allotting tickets though Dalit holds 13 percent of total population". 

Bindu Pariyar, President of the Association for Dalit Women's Advancement of Nepal (ADWAN), opined that the democratic legacy party NC, which has repeatedly fought for change, and Nepali Communist Party and UML, which claim to struggle for the rights of marginalized, have proven to be insensitive towards Dalits. 

She noted that by not directly giving tickets to the Dalit community, their representation in Parliament is seen as meager. 

Just like the constitutional provision requiring 33 percent women in Parliament, there should also be a mandatory provision for Dalits, she argued. 

In the House of Representatives of 2022, there were 15 Dalit representatives (5.81 percent) while in the 2008 Constituent Assembly, 50 Dalits (8.32 percent) were present. 

There were 40 Dalits (6.65 percent) in the 2010 Constituent Assembly, and 20 Dalits (7.27 percent) in the House of Representatives of 2018. 

Looking at these numbers, the representation of Dalits in Parliament is seen to be decreasing consecutively. 

Out of 59 members of the National Assembly, only eight are Dalits. 

Although Article 42(1) of the Constitution has stated that socially disadvantaged individuals shall have the right to participate in state agencies based on the principle of inclusiveness, its practical implementation has not been achieved. 

The Election Commission has stated that complaints were filed against five candidates from four districts among, 3, 487 candidates who registered their nominations in all 165 constituencies on Tuesday for the House of Representatives elections to be held on March 5. 

EC spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said  that complaints were filed against a candidate from Sunsari-2, one from Rautahat-1, two from Bhaktapur-2, and one from Kailali-1. 

He said that five complaints were filed at the Offices of Returning Officers in all 165 constituencies across the country from 10 am to 3 pm today. 

The period for filing complaints was determined in case the candidates who registered their nominations between 10 am to 3 pm today did not meet the qualifications.

It is stated that nominations and complaints will be reviewed from 3 pm today and decisions will be made by 5 pm on January 22, he said. 

The list of candidates will be published from 5 pm to 7 pm on the same day. 

On January 23, candidates will have the time from 10 am to 1 pm to withdraw their nominations. 

The final list of candidates will be published from 1 pm to 3 pm on January 23. 

On the same day, from 4 pm to 7 pm, candidates will be provided with election symbols. 

According to the commission, 3,089 men, 396 women, and one third-gender candidate have been registered, totaling 3,487 candidates.

The call center launched by the Election Commission (EC) on January 19 is capable of receiving 15 calls simultaneously. 

Established in view of the  House of Representatives (HoR) elections scheduled for March 5, the facility aims to provide voters with information related to election matters.

According to EC Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, the call center is based at the EC office in Kantipath and has been set up to address concerns and queries from voters, citizens, and other stakeholders regarding the March 5 elections. 

Voters can dial the toll-free number 1102 for any election-related inquiries.

The facility is equipped with six desks and operates daily from 9 am to 6 pm, Bhattarai said.

A total of 3,486 candidates have registered their nominations in 165 constituencies across the country for the March 5 elections to the House of Representatives (HoR), as per the latest update provided by the Election Commission. 

These candidates are contesting under the direct election (FPTP). 

The deadline for registering nomination for the elections was until Tuesday. .  

There have been minor changes in the preliminary list as the verification process undertaken by the Commission found that there were two candidates from the same party contesting in some constituencies. 

Registration of nomination was carried out simultaneously across the country on January 20. 

Among the total 3,486 candidates running for the elections, 3,089 are men, 396 women and one is from third gender, said the Commission. 

As per the election schedule, complaints, if any, can be lodged today against the candidates not meeting the required qualifications.