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Several prominent leaders of the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML have been disqualified from contesting the elections to the House of Representatives scheduled for March 5.

Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa, CPN-UML Secretary duo Rajan Bhattarai and Sherdhan Rai have been placed on the blacklist of the Election Commission.

Thapa was a candidate from the Congress and Bhattarai from the UML in Kathmandu-4 in the last election held in 2022.

Thapa defeated Bhattarai by a huge margin.

Similarly, Sherdhan Rai had contested the election from Bhojpur-1. Sudan Kiranti of the CPN (Maoist Center) had defeated Rai.

Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari said that the candidates, who did not submit the detailed election expenses report to the Commission within the specified time and did not make it public to the voters following the 2022 elections, are on the "black list" of the Commission.

Thapa,  Bhattarai and Rai are among the 1,800 candidates, who have been placed on the black list of the Election Commission for not complying with the EC directive. 

"According to the law, individuals,  who fail to comply with the decision of the Commission, will be ineligible to contest the elections set for March 5," Bhandari added. 

Gandaki Province has a total of 1. 87  million voters for the elections to the House of Representatives scheduled for March 5. 

According to Province Election Office, Pokhara, the highest voters are in Kaski district which is 308,572.  Similarly, Manang has recorded the lowest number of voters standing at 7,000.

There are 248,819 voters in Syangja, 254,397 voters in Tanahu, 268,526 voters in Nawalpur, 229,058 in Gorkha and 193,181 in Baglung.

Likewise, Lamjung has 137,124 voters while 125,466 voters in Parbat, 86,397 voters in Myagdi and 11,338 voters in Mustang, shared Information Officer Rudra Prasad Neupane. 

Of the total voters in Gandaki Province, 914,535 are men, 955,516 are women and 14 are others. Gandaki province has 1,297 voting centres and 2,396 polling stations. 

The Election Commission had collected the voters' name lists from September 26-November 21 targeting the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives scheduled for March 5. 

There were 1. 66 million  in Gandaki Province in the HoR election held in 2079 BS.

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has said that elections are the only means to maintain peace and harmony in the country and to establish sustainable democracy.

At a meeting with Durga Prasain, the leader of the Save Nation, Nationality, Religion, Culture and Citizens Campaign in Baluwatar today, PM Karki emphasized the need to conduct the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives on March 5 in a peaceful and fear-free environment with significant participation from the general public.

She clarified that the government is on homework to address many of the demands of campaigner Prasain that are in favour of the people and requested that their grievances and demands be presented in a peaceful manner.

The Prime Minister stressed on the need for elections to the House of Representatives for political stability in the country, urging activist Prasain to support the national campaign to make the elections successful.

Pointing out that the country is engaged in the elections, the Prime Minister made it clear that obtaining the public's approval for his Campaign's agenda is the only democratic solution.

"We have brought the country from a very difficult situation to its current state, and with the cooperation of all relevant parties, we have been working day and night to conduct the elections on the scheduled date to provide a political solution for the country," she said. 

PM Karki added that the nation has been engrossed in the elections atmosphere by dispelling all types of doubts and all parties should be responsible and actively participate in the elections with the thinking that this country is theirs too and make the elections a success.

"We are also the advocates of justice; we have not come to the government to enjoy power and luxury. We have initiated processes to end corruption and to provide justice to the oppressed and suffering classes,” she said adding, “The government is also doing the groundwork to address some of the demands and issues you have raised. We will continue further discussions; the government is always with you," said Prime Minister Karki. 

On the occasion, Prime Minister Karki requested activist Prasain to support the campaign to maintain peace in the country, according to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat. 

A total of 64 political parties have submitted closed lists under the proportional representation system for upcoming elections to the House of Representatives.

The political parties participating in the March 5 elections were asked to submit the PR closed lists at the office of election officer under the PR system established at Bahadurbhawan-based Election Office on December 28 and 29.

EC Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai shared that 64 political parties submitted their closed lists till early this morning. 

Names of 3,424 candidates of 64 parties have been included in the closed list for 110 places under the PR system. 

Out of 64 political parties, 54 political parties are using their own election symbols while the remaining 10 parties would use shared election symbols. 

A total of 93 political parties had filed applications in the EC to file candidacy under the PR system. 

The EC would give time to the political parties from January 5-11 to make any correction or ask for insufficient documents after investigating the closed lists on January 4. 

The final list of the closed lists under the PR system would be published on February 3.