The deadline for submitting the final name list of PR candidates ended on Tuesday evening and the Election Commission is expected to release the list by today. A total of 122 political parties have applied at the EC for a total of 335 PR seats.
Also on Tuesday speaking at a Dasain gathering, UCPN (M) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that the parties would reach an agreement on contentious issues within six months of the 19 November elections. Forms of governance and the issue of state-restructuring led to the demise of the previous CA and are likely to stall proceedings this time round too. Dahal also urged voters to ensure that the UCPN (M) win by a large majority in the upcoming polls so that the new CA would not be plagued by the partisanship of the last CA.
Just before the country went into Dasain break, Nepali Congress cadre who were campaigning door-to-door in Mugu district on Sunday were attacked by CPN-Maoist members in Bhiyee village . The attack comes at the heels of the murder of UML election candidate Mohammad Alam from Bara who succumbed to his gun shot injuries last Thursday. Although the Army is being deployed to provide security in the upcoming polls, the safety of voters and candidates remains a prime concern for the EC and the government.