Close to 3,500 candidates, including 391 women, have filed their nominations for the 165 House of Representatives seats to be contested under the direct voting system in Nepal’s upcoming general elections, election officials said on Tuesday.
The Election Commission said nominations for the First Past the Post (FPTP) system were received between 10 am and 5 pm across the country.
In total, 3,428 candidates — comprising 3,037 men and 391 women — representing various political parties as well as independents, registered their candidatures.
Nepal is scheduled to go to the polls on March 5 to elect members to the 275-member House of Representatives.
Of the total seats, 165 are filled through direct elections under the FPTP system, while the remaining 110 members, or 40 per cent of the House, are elected through proportional representation.
Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari described the nomination process as encouraging and said it was conducted peacefully nationwide.
Election Commission spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said the final list of candidates would be published on January 23 after scrutiny of nomination papers and resolution of any complaints.
The general elections were called following the resignation of Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli on September 9 last year amid widespread protests led by a youth-driven Gen Z movement over allegations of corruption and restrictions on social media.
Following Oli’s resignation, Sushila Karki, 73, was appointed interim prime minister on September 12.
Acting on her recommendation, the President dissolved the House of Representatives and announced fresh elections.
