Dec 01, Kathmandu- Voting for the by-election to elect vacant local representatives in 41 seats has ended. According to the Election Commission, as per the preliminary data of the voting period, 62 percent voting has been done.

By-elections are being held for 41 posts including one municipal mayor, one deputy mayor, two rural municipality chairmen, four vice-chairmen and 33 ward chairmen. Elections are being held in Sirijangha Rural Municipality-3 of Taplejung, Kankai Municipality-6 of Jhapa, Laligurans Municipality Ward No. 8 of Tehrathum, Gadhi Rural Municipality Ward No. 6 of Sunsari, Molung Rural Municipality Ward No. 5 of Okhaldhunga, Triyuga Municipality Ward No. 12 and Belka Municipality Ward No. 9 of Udayapur, Dakneshwari Municipality Ward No. 1 and 4 of Saptari, Dhanushadham Municipality Ward No. 1 of Dhanusha, Ramgopalpur Municipality Ward No. 2 of Mahottari, Ishanath Municipality Ward No. 7 of Rautahat, Rajpur Municipality Ward No. 6 of Rautahat and Gadhimai Municipality Ward No. 8.

Similarly, voting is underway for the post of ward chairperson in Kathmandu Metropolitan City Ward No. 16, Kirtipur Municipality Ward No. 1 and 4, Nuwakot Kakani Rural Municipality Ward No. 2, Makawanpur Hetauda Sub-metropolitan City Ward No. 12, Gorkha Municipality Ward No. 5, Gorkha Municipality Ward No. 5, Gulmi Musikot Municipality Ward No. 1, Kapilvastu Shuddhodhan Rural Municipality Ward No. 1, Runtigadhi Rural Municipality Ward No. 4, Rolpa Thakurbaba Municipality Ward No. 4, Bardiya and Sanibheri Rural Municipality Ward No. 5, Rukum (western part).

Similarly, voting is underway in Ward No. 13 of Dullu Municipality in Dailekh, Ward No. 7 of Kuse Rural Municipality in Jajarkot, Ward No. 4 of Tilagufa Municipality in Kalikot, Ward No. 5 of Tripurasundari Municipality in Dolpa, Ward No. 4 of Surma Rural Municipality in Bajhang, Ward No. 6 of Purbichauki Rural Municipality in Doti, Ward No. 5 of Duhu Rural Municipality in Darchula, and Ward No. 6 of Bhimdatta Municipality in Kanchanpur.

376 candidates, including 20 political parties and independent candidates, are in the fray.

Earlier, Nepali Congress candidates Tekraj Bhattarai and Tika Kumari Chaudhary (Bhol) and Jagat Gharti of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) have been elected unopposed as the chiefs of the District Coordination Committees of Olkhadhunga and Kailali, respectively, and Rukum (Eastern part) and Uttarganga Rural Municipality Ward No. 2. Chief Election Officer Indira Karki informed that the counting of votes will begin today in Kirtipur Municipality.