10.18 percent voting done by 11am
About 10.18 percent of voters had cast their ballots nationwide by 11am in the House of Representatives election in Nepal. Officials said 1,923,824 votes had been recorded by that time.
According to Election Commission Nepal spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, polling is continuing across the country as voter turnout gradually increases.
A total of 18,903,689 voters are registered in the election, including 9,663,358 men, 9,240,131 women and 200 voters listed under other categories.
Free airport shuttle service provided
Nepal Tourism Board has provided a free shuttle bus service to help domestic and international passengers travel during the election. The service is aimed at travelers using Tribhuvan International Airport.
The buses will operate from 5am to 7pm across major areas of the Kathmandu Valley. The board said the service is intended to reduce possible travel difficulties on election day and ensure passengers reach the airport on time.
Multiple routes will connect tourist hubs, hotels and key city locations with the airport. Acting Director Sunil Sharma urged travelers to use the shuttle service for safe and convenient movement during the polls.
Residents refuse to vote in Dang
Residents affected by Banke National Park have boycotted voting in parts of Dang District during the House of Representatives election. Polling stations at Deuti Secondary School in Babai Rural Municipality-7 and Janata Basic School in Babai-1 remained deserted with no voters as of 10:30am.
Polling officer Chiranjivi Khadka said none of the 682 registered voters at the Deuti Secondary School polling station had cast ballots. A similar situation was reported at Janata Basic School, which has 530 registered voters.
Local leaders from the National Park Affected Struggle Committee said residents decided to boycott the vote after their demands for relocation were not addressed. The affected communities say wildlife threats have increased since the area was declared a buffer zone around Banke National Park.
25 percent voting in Jhapa-5
About 25 percent of voters had cast ballots by 10:30am in Jhapa Constituency No 5 during the House of Representatives election. The Returning Officer’s office said voting has been peaceful so far.
The constituency has drawn major attention due to a high-profile contest involving former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party Balen Shah.
Election officials said a total of 163,379 voters are registered in the constituency.
