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Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML candidates emerged victorious in Lumbini Province in the National Assembly (NA) elections held on Sunday.

Ram Kumari Jhankri of the UML won the election from the women’s category, while Chandra Bahadur KC of the Nepali Congress won from the others’ category. Similarly, Basudev Ghimire of the Nepali Congress secured victory under the disabled/minorities category.

Jhankri secured a vote weightage of 6,303 against 1,362 obtained by her nearest competitor, Durga Kumari Bhandari of the Nepali Communist Party. 

Another contender, Padma Pundit of the Rastriya Janamorcha, obtained a vote weightage of 152.

Similarly, KC secured a vote weightage of 5,977 against 1,832 obtained by his nearest rival, Brihaspati Adhikari of the Nepali Communist Party. 

Bam Bahadur Khatri of the Rastriya Janamorcha received 133 vote weightage in the same election.

Ghimire, while winning the election in the disabled/minorities category, secured a vote weightage of 6,322, while his nearest contender, Sarjan BK of the Nepali Communist Party, obtained 1,601.

A total of 78 votes: 30 from female and 48 male were cast from the province level, while 208 votes were cast from the local levels. 

From the province level, five voters were absent, and from the local levels, nine voters were absent.

The Supreme Court (SC) has refused to issue an interim order in a writ petition filed by the patron of Nagarik Unmukti Party Nepal, Reshamlal Chaudhary, demanding to contest the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) polls. 

A single bench of Justice Balkrishna Dhakal issued an order for show cause, while declining to give the interim order. 

The next hearing date of the case is scheduled for January 29. 

Chaudhary had lodged a petition at the SC on Friday challenging the Election Commission's decision to scrap his candidacy. 

The Election Commission had scrapped the nomination filed by Chaudhary as the candidate of the HoR polls from Kailali-1 after conducting an investigation into the complaint lodged against him.

Voting for the National Assembly elections concluded today in a peaceful and enthusiastic manner, according to the Election Commission (EC). 

The voting was held from 9 am to 3 pm across all seven provinces, recording an overall voter turnout of 95.68 percent, EC Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said.

The election was conducted for 17 among 18 seats that would fall vacant in the Upper House of the federal parliament from March 4. It is noted that one seat had already been filled unopposed. 

According to the Offices of the Election Officers, 345 out of 360 voters cast their votes in Koshi Province, followed by 341 out of 364 in Madhesh, 318 out of 338 in Bagmati, 286 out of 299 in Lumbini, 223 out of 228 in Gandaki, 191 out of 198 in Karnali, and 220 out of 224 in Sudurpaschim provinces.

In total, 1,924 votes were cast out of 2,011 voters across the country, the EC said.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has expressed gratitude to political parties, candidates, and all concerned stakeholders for contributing to the successful conduct of the elections. Vote counting will take place at the respective Offices of the Election Commission after collecting the ballot boxes.

Out of the 18 posts, one seat under the Khas Arya category in Koshi Province was already filled unopposed. 

Sunil Bahadur Thapa of the Nepali Congress was elected to this post.

Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal has said that the Cyber Bureau does not need approval from senior officials or any other bodies to take action against those spreading misleading information on social sites. 

During a visit to the Cyber Bureau of the Nepal Police at Bhotahiti, the minister made it clear that the Bureau’s personnel are free to bring anyone violating the law under investigation. 

He urged the Bureau to closely monitor the spread of indecent, baseless, and legally prohibited content, as well as misinformation and disinformation on social media, in view of the upcoming election to the House of Representatives. 

The minister also called for prompt action against cases involving fake information and emphasized that the Bureau should remain more active in view of the election.