Kaski, Jan 6: In anticipation of the National Assembly Member Election-2080, preparations are in full swing for the polls scheduled for January 11 in three seats in Gandaki province. The election will witness the participation of 230 voters, and the election officer’s office has been established within the state election office to facilitate the smooth conduct of the electoral process.

District Judge Rishi Ram Acharya of Kaski District Court has been appointed as the Election Officer for Gandaki province. The office has completed essential tasks, including the publication of the final voter list, to ensure the efficient administration of the upcoming elections.

The election will see the potential re-election of prominent figures, including Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, who currently serves as the Speaker of the National Assembly, along with Deepa Gurung and Prakash Panth. Timilsina was elected from another category, Gurung represents women, and Panth represents the Apangatara minority groups. Both Timilsina and Gurung were elected to the National Assembly from CPN (UML), while Panth represents the Congress.

As the nomination deadline approaches, political parties are actively engaged in selecting their candidates. Nepali Congress, CPN (UML), and CPN (Maoist Center) have submitted the names of their candidates from various districts and provinces to their respective party centers. The nomination process is scheduled for January 23.

Gandaki province boasts a total of 230 voters, comprising 60 from the state assembly and 170 from the local level. In the election, 53 votes from provincial assembly members and 19 from local level heads and deputy heads have been allocated. The provincial assembly holds 3,180 votes, and the local level has 3,230 votes.

Nepali Congress, being the largest party in the provincial assembly, possesses 27 votes in the provincial assembly and 67 votes, including chief and deputy chief positions at the local level. The total vote share of Congress is 2,704.

CPN (UML) has a total of 68 members, including 22 provincial assembly members and local level chiefs and deputy chiefs, with a combined vote weight of 2,458. The Maoist Center holds 994 votes, incorporating eight provincial assembly members and 30 local level chiefs and deputy chiefs. The Samajwadi Party has 72 votes with one provincial assembly member and one mayor from the CPN (United) Samajwadi Party.

RPP has two members in the Gandaki State Assembly, securing a total of 106 votes. The National People’s Front holds 57 votes, encompassing three individuals, including the head and deputy head of the local level. Chiring Gurung, the vice-chairman of Manang’s Nisyang Rural Municipality, won as an independent and possesses 19 votes.