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All preparations along with necessary security arrangements for the National Assembly election have been completed. The NA election is taking place on January 25.

The voting is scheduled from 9 am to 3 pm where Province Assembly members, and the chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of rural municipalities, and the mayors and deputy-mayors of urban municipalities are the voters.

The Election Commission has determined a silence period from Monday mid-night till the end of voting in order to maintain impartiality, transparency and a fear-free environment in the election as per the legal provision.

During the silence period, political party office-bearers, candidates, sister organizations of the party, other persons, institutions and bodies that must follow the election code of conduct are not allowed to conduct any kind of discussion, interaction, meeting and workshop related to election publicity, said EC Spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Poudel.

Arrangements have been made for white ballot paper having election symbols in green ink for Province Assembly members, and for white ballot paper with election symbols in red ink for chairperson, vice-chairpersons of the rural municipalities and mayors and deputy-mayors of municipalities in the election.

Nepal has said that the Global South is emerging as an economic powerhouse and contributing to more than half of the world’s growth. 

Addressing the third South Summit of Group 77 and China, Nepal’s Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal  stressed on the importance of deeper cooperation in addressing the myriad of global challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic, inequality, debt distress, conflicts, climate change, and geopolitical rivalry.

The summit brought more than 134 countries together on a single platform to enhance South-South cooperation in the areas of sustainable development, climate change, trade, and investment, among others. 

Lamsal reiterated Nepal’s support to the Group of 77 and China in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Paris Agreement, and other Internationally Agreed Development Goals including Doha Program of Action. She expressed Nepal’s strong commitment to fostering solidarity, harmony, and cooperation among countries of the Global South.

She highlighted that the Global South is emerging as an economic powerhouse and contributing to more than half of the world’s growth. With 134 member countries comprising over two-thirds of UN members and 80 percent of the global population, Group of 77 and China, is a strong force to be reckoned with, said Lamsal. “Together, we can deliver better and greater,” she added.

Foreign Secretary Lamsal also urged the group to play an instrumental role in decision-making and norm-setting in global development and financial architecture. She called on the member states to collaborate in making multilateralism more inclusive, innovative, and responsive to the needs of developing countries.

While calling for the fulfillment of promises and commitments made by developed countries in terms of Official Development Assistance, climate financing, and technology transfer, she underscored the importance of strengthening North-South, South-South, and Triangular Cooperation by focusing on the needs of LDCs in trade, infrastructure, and productive capacity.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has expressed commitment to making the coming fiscal year's policy, program and budget people-oriented.

During the meeting with a delegation led by CPN-UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli at the official residence of the Prime Minister in Baluwatar today, PM Dahal shared that he was hopeful that it would bring good results as the quality change is going to be made in coming year's policy, program and the structure, timeline and process of the budget.

On the occasion, the CPN-UML had submitted a memorandum before the government after incorporating the demands put forth by the people during 'Resolution Journey for Prosperity' campaign launched by the UML from Jhulaghat of Baitadi to Chiwabhanjyang of Taplejung from November 30 to December 17.

Receiving the memo, the Prime Minister said the attention drawn by the UML on the issues of development, construction of mid-hill areas, public service and prosperity would make significant contributions in the government's policy, program and budget making.

He further said the UML's campaign has significantly contributed in protection of and strengthening the federal democratic republic.

PM Dahal also expressed commitment that the government would be seriously involved to address the possible issues presented by the UML in the memo.

Sharing that the campaign made significant contributions to understand the life of mid-hill areas, development construction, people's psychology, the situation of political collaboration, aspiration of prosperity, and its possibilities, former Prime Minister and UML Chair Oli urged the prime Minister to help address the issues incorporated in the memo.

UML office-bearers as well as other leaders were also in the delegation.

The Election Commission has prohibited election publicity activities from 12 midnight today.

Voting is taking place on January 25 for 19 seats in the National Assembly, the upper chamber of the Federal Parliament.

The Commission stated that the political party office-bearers, candidates, the sister organizations of the parties and other persons, institutions or agencies that have to abide by the election code of conduct should not hold any form of discussions, interactions, assemblies, workshop seminars etc during the time election publicity has been prohibited.

Election Commission spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Poudel urged all concerned to follow and have followed the code which bars soliciting votes and carrying out election publicity by any means, process or method and posting or sharing on social networking sites, online, print or any other media of any message, information or publicity materials in support of or against a political party or candidate during this period. 

The tenure of 19 members of the National assembly is ending on March 4. The law requires that elections should be held to the seats falling vacant before one month of the termination of the term.