Preparations are in full swing for the May 13 local-level elections. Political parties and candidates are out barnstorming while the Election Commission is doing its part to conduct a free and fair vote.
For political parties, particularly those in the Nepali Congress-led ruling coalition, these past few weeks have been hectic. For days, the ruling parties were busy divvying up seats as they had decided to forge an electoral alliance against CPN-UML, the main opposition.
The ruling Congress, CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist), and Janta Samajwadi Party have nominated common candidates in most local bodies and are competing individually only in a few places.
Similarly, UML, too, has cobbled alliances with small opposition parties like Loktantrik Samajwadi Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party in many places. The main opposition, however, has called dibs on mayoral seats in almost every metropolis, sub-metropolis and municipality.
The electoral alliances have also led to resentment and dissatisfaction in some parties.
As a result, many local politicians have registered themselves as rebel candidates after being denied tickets from their parties. For instance, Jagannath Paudel of Congress has filed his candidacy against Renu Dahal of Maoist Center in Bharatpur Metropolitan City. Likewise, in Pokhara Metropolitan City, Nanda Tiwari and Hrishi Sapkota of Congress have stood against the Unified Socialist candidate, Dhanraj Acharya.
There are also several independent youth candidates this time. Rapper and structural engineer Balen Shah is running for the mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City. Similarly, Ganess Paudel has filed an independent candidacy for Pokhara Metropolitan City’s mayor. Young and independent candidates are also contesting at the municipal level.
Among the mayoral aspirants this time are also some provincial lawmakers. They have resigned as assembly members to contest the May 13 elections.
According to Saligram Sharma Paudel, spokesperson of the Election Commission, 137,043 people have filed their candidacies for 35,221 posts this time.
Of them, 3,276 are for mayor, 2,009 for deputy mayor, 3,264 for chairperson, 2,296 for vice-chairperson, and 32,217 for ward chairperson. Similarly, 23,521 candidacies have been filed for women members, 21,221 for Dalit women members, and 49,239 for ward members.
Kaike, Charkatangsong, and Shey Phoksundo rural municipalities of Dolpa district have already elected their chairs and vice-chairs unopposed after only Unified Socialist filed its candidacy.
There are over 10,000 polling stations all over Nepal. The Home Ministry has categorized around 3,000 of them as ‘very sensitive’ and 4,000 as ‘sensitive’ and is preparing to mobilize security personnel accordingly.
Nearly 100,000 temporary police have been hired to assist the 60,000-strong Nepal Police for election security. The Armed Police Force will also be deployed on patrol, and to secure election offices. Similarly, Nepal Army soldiers will also be involved in various poll security duties, including securing airports and prisons.
Around 2,000 officers of the National Investigation Department will be mobilized to collect vital security information and coordinate with the police forces.
‘Preparations are on track’
Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya
Chief Election Commissioner
The commission is responsible for meeting almost every logistical election need. So we need to get many things right to conduct free and fair elections. Due to the many posts at the local level, managing ballot papers is a little tricky. Yet, we are on schedule and everything is on track.
We are in the process of finalizing candidates and giving them election symbols.
Ballot papers are also being printed, and other necessary materials are being sent to respective election offices. We are playing our part and I request other stakeholders to do the same, especially the political parties, whom I request to adhere to the election code of conduct.
