KIRTIPUR: Altogether 20 candidates contesting for two vacant seats in Kirtipur municipality in Kathmandu in the upcoming by-election are keeping busy with election campaigns to lure voters.
The by-election taking place on coming December 1 to fill 42 vacant seats across the country is also set to be held for ward chairperson post forward no 1 and 4 in the Kirtipur municipality.
Since the silence period is going to be implemented 72 hours prior to the Election Day, nine candidates from various political parties, 11 independent candidates and one from sexually marginalized community are jostling to attract as many as voters.
Kirtipur's upcoming election is viewed with high interest due to Kirtipur's proximity with federal capital city- Kathmandu- and having got an opportunity to elect highest number (two) of people's representatives in the single local level, said Indira Karki, Chief Election Officer at the Kirtipur Municipality.
Similarly, Neeta Pokharel Aryal, Spokesperson and Joint-Secretary at the Election Commission of Nepal noted that the silence hours will come into force from midnight of November 28. Therefore, election campaigns are underway in full swing at present, she informed
According to Spokesperson Aryal, the Election Commission was currently monitoring the compliance of election code of conduct and voter education related works.
"All candidates in the fray are running election campaigns in their own way. They have been cooperating to us by attending every all-party meetings organized by the Commission," said Chief Election Officer Karki.
Kirtipur Municipality has a total of 31,112 voters. Among them 15,095 were male, 16,015 female and two identified as others, said Karki, adding that the election campaigns were ongoing in cordially and peacefully.
The Election Office is also receiving full support from all candidates, she mentioned, stating that all decisions were made unanimously rather than by majority.