KATHMANDU, Dec 8: A total of 114 political parties have officially registered with the Election Commission (EC) to contest the House of Representatives (HoR) election scheduled for March 5.
According to EC spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, the commission approved applications from 114 parties for the upcoming polls. However, 13 parties had their applications rejected for various reasons. “Initially, eight parties applied to contest independently but later decided to join other parties. As a result, their earlier registrations were cancelled,” Bhattarai explained.
Twelve parties to contest election in five groups
In addition, one party withdrew its application voluntarily, another submitted duplicate applications, and two parties applied as single candidates, leading to the cancellation of one of them.
Currently, the total number of parties registered with the EC stands at 143, but only 114 will participate in the March election. Some registered parties chose not to file applications to contest.
The EC has allocated 107 election symbols for the polls. Of these, 102 parties will compete with distinct symbols. During registration, parties were allowed to choose their preferred symbols, and most received their first choice. Established parties retained the symbols they previously used.
Among notable allocations, the Nepali Communist Party has received the five-pointed star, Janata Loktantrik Party the buffalo, Desh Bikash Party the walking stick, Nepal Sadbhawana Party the handprint, Nepal Manawtabadi Party the well, Rastriya Bikash Party the elephant, National Republic Nepal the flying bee, Rastriya Sajha Party the Dhaka topi, Nepal Samabesi Party the parrot, Pariwartan Party the butterfly, Khambuwan Rastriya Morcha the hammer, Rastriya Ekata Dal the basil plant, and Sanghiya Nepal Party the nepali traditional urn (gagri).
Other allocations include Nepal Janamukti Party with the house, Bahujan Shakti Party the jug, Deshbhakta Samaj Party the deer, and Rastriya Pariwartan Party the flute.
