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The silence period of the by-elections for the local level has started from midnight today.

With the beginning of the by-elections, publicity events for the by-elections have been prohibited from last midnight in accordance with the election code of conduct.

The EC has urged all stakeholders to ensure the by-elections are conducted in a free, fair, and impartial manner.

The by-elections for some local levels is scheduled to take place on December 1.

According to the Election Commission, election-related activities are prohibited until the completion of vote counting, starting from midnight tonight, 48 hours before the voting day.

The EC has already arranged to enforce the election code of conduct at the concerned local levels by monitoring activities to prevent violations during this silent period.

Activities such as interactions, assemblies, conferences, workshops, and seminars in favor of or against candidates, as well as soliciting votes for candidates through digital platforms and social media such as SMS, Facebook, and Viber are restricted during this 48-hour period in accordance with the election code of conduct, Spokesperson at the EC Nita Pokharel said.

The Election Commission (EC) has directed the bodies concerned to provide polling venues for the local level by-elections scheduled for December 1.

It urged the bodies concerned to provide for use the spaces which have been designated as polling venues, from November 28 till the voting concludes on December 1.

The voting for the by-polls will open at 7 am and close at 5 pm, the EC stated.

The EC, through the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, instructed all the local levels where the by-elections are being conducted to make arrangements for using the community schools, private schools, ward offices, health posts, community buildings, industrial establishment and public places that have been designated as polling venues for the same purpose.

A meeting of the EC on Sunday also urged the local governments to give a public holiday on December 1 in the local levels and the local wards and also to create conducive environment for holding the local level by-elections in a free, fair, credible and economical manner, said EC spokesperson Nota Pokharel Aryal.

President Ram Chandra Paduel has given approval for mobilizing Nepal Army (NA) in the House of Representatives (HoR) and the Province Assembly (PA) by-elections scheduled to take place on April 27.

The Council of the Ministers on April 22 recommended the President to endorse the deployment of the NA to hold the by-elections in a free, impartial and reliable atmosphere, based on the recommendations of the National Security Council meeting held earlier the same day.

The President granted permission for the mobilization of the NA in the by-elections in accordance with Article 66 (2) of the Constitution.

The Election Commission (EC) provided election symbols to candidates of by-elections of the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

The by-elections are scheduled to be held in Ilam-2 and Bajhang-1 on April 27.

A total of 20 candidates, including 12 from different political parties and eight independent candidates had filed their nominations in Ilam.

Of them, an independent candidate Keshav Kumar Chapagain withdrew his candidacy. The name list of the remaining 19 candidates was published and they were provided with election symbols.

Similarly, in Bajhang, 12 candidates from 12 political parties had registered their nominations. Of them, a candidate of Nepali Janata Dal, Ashok Sunar, withdrew his candidacy and election symbols were provided to the remaining 11 candidates, according to the EC.

The Nepali Congress has decided to field Dambar Bahadur Khadka in Ilam-2 for the by-election to be held on April 27.

A Central Work Execution Committee meeting held at party President Sher Bahadur Deuba's residence in Budhanilkantha on Thursday decided to field Khadka in Ilam-2 for the by-election, Publicity Department Chief Min Bahadur Bishwokarma said.

Similarly, the meeting has decided to field Abhisekh Bahadur Singh in Bajhang, he informed.

Singh is the son of late Congress lawmaker Prithvi Bahadur Singh.

The by-election is going to be held in Bajhang after Singh, the Law Minister of Sudurpaschim Province, passed away on June 20.

Ilam's candidate Khadka had lost to CPN-UML candidate Subash Chandra Nembang in the election held in 2022.

The Nepali Congress is holding meetings of its parliamentary board and Central Work Execution Committee today to finalize candidates for the by-elections in Ilam constituency 1 and Bajhang Province Assembly (1) scheduled for April 27.

Information and Publicity Department Chief of the party Min Bahadur Bishwokarma informed that the meetings will be held later this afternoon to finalize candidates for the by-elections from the party.

The meetings will be held under the chairmanship of party President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at 2 pm.  Initially, the parliamentary board meeting will decide on the candidates and the Central Work Execution Committee will endorse it, he added.

The NC officer bearers, former office bearers and top leaders had held discussions on Monday evening about possible candidates.

The Election Commission has already made public a schedule for the April 27 by-elections as per which parties need to file candidacy by April 6.

The CPN (Maoist Center) has decided to field its candidates for the by-elections scheduled to be held on April 27.

An office-bearers’ meeting held on Wednesday decided to nominate candidates for the by-polls in Ilam-2 and Bajhang Province Assembly (1).

The Maoist Center, however, has not finalized the names of the candidates.

Similarly, the CPN (Unified Socialist) has also decided to contest the by-elections in Ilam-2 and Bajhang.

A meeting held this morning decided to field the party candidates in both the places.

The CPN-UML has decided to field Suhang Nembang in Ilam-2 and Daman Bhandari in Bajhang Province Assembly (1).

Senior leaders of three major political parties held a discussion on the by-elections to be held on April 28.

During a meeting held on Monday morning, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman Madhav Nepal discussed fielding candidates for the by-elections.

On the occasion, CPN (US) Chairman Nepal informed that the party will field its candidate for the by-election in Bajhang.

Saying that discussions are underway between the CPN (Maoist Center) and CPN (Unified Socialist) to field a candidate in Ilam, Nepal clarified that no one can stop the party from fielding its candidate in Bajhang.

CPN-UML has already made a decision to field Suhang Nembang in Ilam-2 and Daman Bhandari in Province Assembly-1 of Bajhang.

Other parties have not finalized the candidates for the by-elections yet.